Re: On Creating an Effective Work Environment

Personally, I would rank appropriate guidance and clear project management as more important than physical layout or various other "perks".

Don't get me wrong -- perks are good; it's important for people to feel valued and to see tangible evidence that they are appreciated. But being nice and indulgent toward them won't help productivity if they're unsure or unclear about what they are supposed to be doing (and morale will still suffer, as well).

I think it's especially important for new hires to have mentors, who know what is expected of the newbies, can ask detailed questions to keep track of their progress, and can offer tips or answers when the newbie gets stuck (or offer more to do when the newbie sails ahead of expectations).

The "big picture" for each project needs to be shared, and the detailed breakdown and assignment of tasks needs to be a matter of record, with realistic assessment of the tasks that will involve learning and using new tools (as distinct from those that involve "turning a crank" on a familiar process).

Comment on Re: On Creating an Effective Work Environment

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re^2: On Creating an Effective Work Environment by adrianh (Chancellor) on Aug 22, 2003 at 09:24 UTC
Personally, I would rank appropriate guidance and clear project management as more important than physical layout or various other "perks". I'd disagree. I'd put them on equal footing. A bad working environment can cause just as many problems as bad "management". No matter how good the management you cannot be productive in a poor working environment. For example, I was once forced to work for a couple of months in an open plan office next to a group of marketing people. Lovely people (well, most of them :-) but their jobs involved answering and making phone calls all day. Our productivity dropped to just above zero with six mobiles and six desk phones going off continuously.	[reply]

Replies are listed 'Best First'.

Re^2: On Creating an Effective Work Environment
by adrianh (Chancellor) on Aug 22, 2003 at 09:24 UTC

Personally, I would rank appropriate guidance and clear project management as more important than physical layout or various other "perks".

I'd disagree. I'd put them on equal footing. A bad working environment can cause just as many problems as bad "management". No matter how good the management you cannot be productive in a poor working environment.

For example, I was once forced to work for a couple of months in an open plan office next to a group of marketing people. Lovely people (well, most of them :-) but their jobs involved answering and making phone calls all day. Our productivity dropped to just above zero with six mobiles and six desk phones going off continuously.

[reply]