Value of a Cube with a View (06-16-10)

Human beings mimic each others’ behaviors – many comedy skits owe their success to this fact.  Now researchers at the University of Alberta have found that when people are completing relatively routinized tasks, they will match the speed of a new worker that they can see who works faster than they originally did.  This is an argument for the use of cubicle or open working spaces – spaces in which workers can see each other - when workers are doing routinized work. 

“Faster Employees May Indirectly Motivate Colleagues to Increase Production.”  2010.  Press release, University of Alberta, http://www.ualberta.ca