MICHAEL DEMPSEY - Cranfield University

Resource distribution systems
been working on it as well. The two of them don't realise that
they have been working on the same thing. (interviewee B)
I have to say, going back many years at BIFU we moved from
old offices into here and we had long discussions about pros
and cons of having an open plan office for the research officers
and whether there should be individual offices and it is very
difficult really to know which way is best. Both have merits. But
we went for this model and people can usually find a quiet space
somewhere in the building if they absolutely need it. I think if I
was doing it again I would do it the same way because I think
that the interaction is valuable. It is easy for me to say because
of course I can get away from it. (Interviewee J)
Other UNiFI managers express rather different views:-
We had the usual debate about whether it should be open plan
or not. My view is that trade unions don't lend themselves to
open plan working. Call centres do because you're all doing the
same sort of work. (Interviewee A)
Mostly they have gone for the cellular arrangement, rather than
open plan…..I think it is positive. I mean they are in and out of
each other's offices, of course, all the time. They are within ten
yards of each other. But I think we have got our own space and
personally I've always preferred it that way -- well I have never
worked in open plan so I would not know what it was like. I just
knew intuitively I would not like it (Interviewee F)
On the other hand, despite criticism of existing offices (the City of
London office, for example, was described by the Joint General
Secretary as ‘shitty’), a senior manager believed that demonstrating to
staff that they should occupy high quality accommodation was
important:-
In the Leeds office - they say that little things mean a lot and
they probably do - I got the specification off the back of a lorry,
to be fair. I said to this bloke - 'good stuff, isn't it?' Little curtains
sealed inside glass - it's expensive. I think it was an over-order
from another job but whatever. We got them a good spec. I just
went in there and said 'OK, right, get in the car and we're going
down to IKEA.' Leave all the crap in the old office, bought them
cups, kettles fridges, they choose the cups. They also decide to
consult on who gets the best natural light. The people who get
the best natural light are the people who have to stay in there
the longest. Officers by and large have to put up with what they
put up with because they are paid more money and they are not
in the office every day of the week. (Interviewee A)
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