So much for non-disclosure agreements. For the old New Economy, the universal-planning model made sense. People suddenly found themselves in an open, egalitarian working environment. Fewer private offices meant that communication happened everywhere in elevators equipped with whiteboards, in corridors equipped with standing PC stations, and in any locale where food could be found. In the Next Economy, universal planning is no longer appropriate.
Companies require a variety of spaces.
Innovation is vital now, and the social friction that supports it is being directed to places where communication can be supported. One constant between the two economies is the town square concept. In the best planning scenarios, employees and departments are tied together by a town square. It becomes the heart of the company, a centralized location where everyone can come together as a community. The square s multiple amenities promote spontaneous interaction and communication.