The sound of Matt and Peter’s arguing is familiar to everyone in the office by now. In an effort to make the best use of space and ensure a free flow of discussion and ideas, the founder of Markay Design had decided to convert the one-floor office of the company to an open plan with no walls between workers. The goal of such a layout is to eliminate boundaries and enhance creativity. But for Matt and Peter, the new arrangement creates a growing sense of tension. The argument boils down to the question of workspace order and organization. Peter prefers to keep his desk completely clean and clear, and he keeps a stack of cleaning wipes in a drawer to eliminate any dust or dirt. Matt, on the other hand, likes to keep all his work visible on his desk, so sketches, plans, magazines, and photos are scattered everywhere, alongside boxes of crackers and coffee cups. Peter finds it hard to concentrate when he sees Matt’s piles of materials everywhere, while Matt feels he can be more creative and free flowing when he’s not forced to clean and organize constantly. Many of Matt and Peter’s coworkers wish they’d just let the issue drop. The men enjoyed a good working relationship in the past, with Peter’s attention to detail and thorough planning serving to rein in some of Matt’s wild inspirations. But of late, their collaborations have been derailed in disputes. Both Matt and Peter worry that if they can’t find a solution, their usually positive work relationship will be too contentious to bear. And that would be a real mess. a. Describe some of the factors that led this situation. b. Do you think this is an issue worth generating conflict over? What are the potential costs and benefits of Matt and Peter having an open discussion of the issues?
The sound of Matt and Peter’s arguing is familiar to everyone in the office by now. In an effort
to make the best use of space and ensure a free flow of discussion and ideas, the founder of
Markay Design had decided to convert the one-floor office of the company to an open plan with
no walls between workers. The goal of such a layout is to eliminate boundaries and enhance
creativity. But for Matt and Peter, the new arrangement creates a growing sense of tension.
The argument boils down to the question of workspace order and organization. Peter prefers to
keep his desk completely clean and clear, and he keeps a stack of cleaning wipes in a drawer to
eliminate any dust or dirt. Matt, on the other hand, likes to keep all his work visible on his desk,
so sketches, plans, magazines, and photos are scattered everywhere, alongside boxes of crackers
and coffee cups. Peter finds it hard to concentrate when he sees Matt’s piles of materials
everywhere, while Matt feels he can be more creative and free flowing when he’s not forced to
clean and organize constantly. Many of Matt and Peter’s coworkers wish they’d just let the issue
drop. The men enjoyed a good working relationship in the past, with Peter’s attention to detail
and thorough planning serving to rein in some of Matt’s wild inspirations. But of late, their
collaborations have been derailed in disputes. Both Matt and Peter worry that if they can’t find a
solution, their usually positive work relationship will be too contentious to bear. And that would
be a real mess.
a. Describe some of the factors that led this situation.
b. Do you think this is an issue worth generating conflict over? What are the potential costs and
benefits of Matt and Peter having an open discussion of the issues?
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