Trust, Social Spaces, and Room Design

Thornton May expounds on the value of cooperation to companies and other ventures. He cites research by Dr. Karen Stephenson which indicates that cooperation can be measured, and may be enhanced by specific room layouts and techniques.

More influential than room layouts and social manipulation is the the underlying level of trust between collaborators. To be productive, trust must exist between the individual persons involved in group projects for collaboration to flourish. Too much competition within a group destroys the dynamics that make the assembled players creative and dynamic.

My additional reading on this by topic indicates that solitude is as important to creativity as social spaces, justifying the existence of private spaces. Balance is necessary for optimum productivity.

-DD