Why Your Inner Circle Should Stay Small, and How to Shrink It

When corporate workspaces are reorganized, many employees view the process as nothing but a nuisance. Desks are cleared, boxes are packed, daily work is disrupted—for what, exactly?  Design firms have long touted the benefits of such changes, promising that when people are able to circulate more freely and to randomly encounter different sets of colleagues, they’re more communicative, collaborative, and creative.  Some managers believe that too: When Steve Jobs was planning a new headquarters for Pixar, he famously located the large central r.....