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Furniture and workplace designs have undergone radical transformations in the last few decades. Modern offices back in the 1990s used to be about plush decors, walled-in cabins, carpeted flooring etc. with well demarcated areas for executives, middle management, supervisors, entry level trainees etc. Making office furniture spaces more effective must take into the account that adaptation of individual needs for specific purposes is of prime importance; creating inviting and energizing work spaces reflects a business' work ethos. The 'Open Office' concept began with architectural designs that intended more to accommodate natural light and ventilation and enforce energy savings concepts by creating flexible spaces and breaking down walls. By doing this it was assumed that collaboration, innovation and transparency would be forged where hierarchies would vanish and egalitarian positions would be established. However, contrary to corporate expectations, such open offices have not produced benefits that outweigh their cons. Studies by organizational psychologists and analysts reveal that invariably open offices created a 'symbolic sense of organizational mission' leading to a more laid-back, informal and easy environment that was highly damaging to employees' attention spans, creative thinking etc., leading to decreased productivity. Another fact also revealed is that as the number of employees working in single rooms or spaces increased, worker attendance correspondingly decreased with those people working in open offices absenting from work more than those working in closed office spaces.
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