Open offices: interaction or control?

Abstract

This paper discusses open offices based on two perspectives — interaction and control — in order to assess to what extent they increase interaction among individuals in organizations or, on the contrary, are another control mechanism. Two approaches supported data collection and analysis, as well as the results of the study: the social relations approach and the critical approach. The field survey results suggest that the open office not only is a way of increasing interaction among individuals in organizations, but also a control mechanism.