--> Have been sharing an 'open-plan' large office X 2years+ now. Initially
joined as one of six sharing it. Had about 4 networked terminals then, which
we shared. We moved to a temporary site 8 months ago, pending completeion of
brand new department (& hospital) in under a year's time from now. We had
our choice for this temporary office and we chose to continue as open plan.
There are now 12 of us and we have switched to laptops with docking
stations. As we're very shop-floor active, it's unusual to have more than 5
of us there at once and the typical number is 2-3. Could fit around 8 of us
there working at one time, but this never happens. And, before you ask. We
are having an open-plan office at the new site, of course.
--> Would not wish to ever have a box to live in myself. One of my top
reasons for choosing Emergency Medicine was working in a team, so why sit
alone? We have 2-3 further rooms/offices in our "complex", such as our
research office or a larger seminar room and middle-grade office, which we
can "borrow" for private meetings, interviews, appraisals, etc... Our
open-plan room is huge enough to have a private meeting at one corner while
someone works at another. People have filing cabinets and shelves for their
stuff at varios points in the room, usually near the 2-3 docking stations
they like best. I personally digitise all my stuff, so I do not need
anywhere to store much paper anyway.
--> Other advantages:
- COST & SPACE SAVINGS!!! Among other details, our office is way smaller
than would be the footprint of 12 single ones with corridors between them. 1
door a good combination lock costs less than 12 with bad ones
- Someone/s to bounce ideas off by simply twisting around in chair and
starting to chat
- Easy to cover for each other on phone and take messages if anyone calls
extension directly and bypasses secretaries
- Economy of scale with air-con & fans, water dispenser, etc. We have all
our stations arranged on desks around 4 walls of room with cabinets
scattered in between and shelves above desks. Each desk has office chair and
there are about 6 or so phones around. In centre of room we have a couple of
bunches of armchairs for meetings/chats and a few tables, which can easily
be formed for conference. We also run our own CPD sessions there without
having to book somewhere which will fit us all with our projector and
catering. It would be easy to see the benefits when you think of purchasing
office equipment with easy access to all, such as printers, shredder, etc. I
am planning, for the new place, a TV and sound system, for when any of us
are having a lunch/dinner break (which we often take in the room together).
This will be connected to a powerpoint projector for better viewing and to
save space (if you have that projector anyway) as well as a few sets of
blue-tooth headphones, in case not everyone wants in on the entertainment.
Lots of options which would cost much more if multiplied 12 times.
--> Absolutely no problem doing as much admin as you wish under these
conditions. Far more flexible space - you can spread over a large number of
desks temporarily when you need to. Current clinical director (rotating
appointment among us) shares with all others without problems.
--> Would recommend it to anyone if you have the chance or happen to be
planning a re-structure anyway
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