ray@mfgfoc.UUCP (Ray Lillard) (08/02/88)
A few years ago I attended a lecture by Tom DeMarco. He spoke on the subject of s/w engineering productivity and factors which influence it. While discussing office arrangements he made reference to a study at IBM (San Jose - Santa Teresa, I think) which showed that software engineer offices with walls, a door, a phone which could be disabled, 30 sq. ft. of work surface and 100 sq. ft. of floor space were desirable and cost effective. Can anyone point me to the study (assuming it was published) or to any other studies addressing the topic. The software team here is in a large room with constant chatter, telephone calls and personal radios that drive me nuts. -- Raymond Y. Lillard FOCUS Semiconductor Systems Inc. net: (sun!daver!mfgfoc!ray) 570 Maude Court att: (408) 738-0600 Sunnyvale, CA 94086 USA
reeder@littlei.UUCP (reeder) (08/05/88)
In article <387@mfgfoc.UUCP> ray@mfgfoc.UUCP (Ray Lillard) writes: >A few years ago I attended a lecture by Tom DeMarco. He spoke >on the subject of s/w engineering productivity and factors >which influence it. While discussing office arrangements he >made reference to a study at IBM (San Jose - Santa Teresa, >I think) which showed that software engineer offices with >walls, a door, a phone which could be disabled, 30 sq. ft. >of work surface and 100 sq. ft. of floor space were desirable >and cost effective. > >Can anyone point me to the study (assuming it was published) >or to any other studies addressing the topic. The software >team here is in a large room with constant chatter, telephone >calls and personal radios that drive me nuts. > The article "IBM's Santa Teresa Laboratory - Architectural design for program development", by Gerald M. McCue, was published in the "IBM Systems Journal", Volume 17 Number 1, 1978. The abstract follows: The special needs of the computer programmer in terms of working space, furniture design, access to terminals and conference rooms, and overall working environment led IBM to construct a facility intended to enhance programmer productivity in a development environment. That facility is the Santa Teresa Laboratory in San Jose, California, designed by MBT Associates of San Francisco. This essay discusses the programmer's needs, how they were perceived, and the process by which they led to unique design concepts, as well as the architectural philosophy underlying the design process. Ed Reeder Intel Corp. Hillsboro, OR (503) 696-2249
feldmark@hanako.stars.flab.Fujitsu.JUNET (08/05/88)
> I think) which showed that software engineer offices with > walls, a door, a phone which could be disabled, 30 sq. ft. > of work surface and 100 sq. ft. of floor space were desirable > and cost effective. > > Can anyone point me to the study (assuming it was published) > or to any other studies addressing the topic. The software > team here is in a large room with constant chatter, telephone > calls and personal radios that drive me nuts. I'm also in a large office with about 50 people, at least 4 of whom I can touch without moving from my chair. I'd like to see that study too :-) Maybe I can get some interesting comments about it here in Japan. Thanks. Mark Feldman Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. Artificial Intelligence Laboratory feldmark@hanako.stars.flab.fujitsu.junet (Japan) feldmark%hanako.stars.flab.fujitsu.junet@uunet.uu.net (USA) -- feldmark@hanako.stars.flab.fujitsu.junet (Japan) feldmark%hanako.stars.flab.fujitsu.junet@uunet.uu.net (USA)
tmcclory@emdeng.Dayton.NCR.COM (Thomas.J.Tom.McClory) (08/05/88)
The article documenting the IBM Santa Teresa Laboratory study is: IBM's Santa Teresa Laboratory -- Architectural Design for Program Development G.M. McCue IBM System Journal, volume 17, Number 1, 1978 pg 4-25. Also reprinted in: Tutorial: Programming Productivity: Issues for The Eighties (2nd edition) IEEE Computer Society, 1986 Editor: Capers Jones -- Tom McClory | UUCP: tmcclory@emdeng.dayton.ncr.com NCR Corporation EMD-4 | or ...gatech!hubcap!ncrcae!ncrlnk!emdeng Engineering & Manufacturing Dayton | Dayton, OH. 45479 |
gordon@prls.UUCP (Gordon Vickers) (08/05/88)
>In article <387@mfgfoc.UUCP> ray@mfgfoc.UUCP (Ray Lillard) writes: >A few years ago I attended a lecture by Tom DeMarco. He spoke >on the subject of s/w engineering productivity and factors >which influence it. While discussing office arrangements he >made reference to a study at IBM (San Jose - Santa Teresa, >I think) which showed that software engineer offices with >walls, a door, a phone which could be disabled, 30 sq. ft. >of work surface and 100 sq. ft. of floor space were desirable >and cost effective. > Could anyone point me to studies that would help me justify getting a window installed ? I'm not trying to be silly, I'm serious. I need to be able to occationally focus my eyes on something that's more than just a few feet away. There would also be psychological benifits; o I'd feel better and more productive if I didn't feel so caged in, o There's a certain comfort in being able to "see" the day progress, (changing light level, amount of outside activities, etc) o I never know what it is like outside (weather), I miss being able to see the tree's sway, the birds pass by, etc. Part of me feels like I'm just wasting my life away. Gordon P. Vickers {mips, pyramid, philabs}!prls!gordon
friedl@vsi.UUCP (Stephen J. Friedl) (08/06/88)
In article <387@mfgfoc.UUCP>, ray@mfgfoc.UUCP (Ray Lillard) writes: > A few years ago I attended a lecture by Tom DeMarco. He spoke > on the subject of s/w engineering productivity and factors > which influence it. This topic, along with many others, is mentioned in _Peopleware_ by Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister. This book is very good in talking about making for a productive shop -- easy to read and full of great anecdotes. *Excellent* reading. Steve -- Steve Friedl V-Systems, Inc. +1 714 545 6442 3B2-kind-of-guy friedl@vsi.com {backbones}!vsi.com!friedl attmail!vsi!friedl --------- Nancy Reagan on flood-control: "Just say Noah"-----------