DesigningCollaborativeWorkspaces

From SPA Wiki

In this workshop we used modelling workspaces with lego people, clay and cardboard to discuss factors which impede collaboration and support collaboration.

What Impedes Collaboration?

• Interruptions

• Smells (smoke, food)
• Noise (phones, chatter, music)
• Movement (people walking thru)
• Visual (TV or views out of window - helicopter, gymnast, etc)

• Furniture

• Inset desk
• Unadjustable/rigid furniture

• Distance between team members

• slows down questioning
• tea/coffee/toilet food

• Collaboration tools

• No whiteboards
• No wallspace

• Environment

• Heat/cold - no control
• Bright lights (glare or dim)

What supports Collaboration?

• Appropriate proximity of desks - close enough for osmotic communication but not too close.
• Team cocoon/boundary

• minimize interruptions from outside
• amplify communication inside
• ownership of the space

• Flexibility

• furniture that can be reconfigured
• spare desks and space
• movable walls, whiteboards

• Meeting rooms

• several spaces
• big room for planning and smaller breakout rooms
• rooms that you can program in - network connection
• whiteboards
• glass walls?

• Lunch space/cafeteria

• Communal space but not too big - connect with other teams

• Quiet soace

• make private phonecalls (can be small meeting room if available enough)