The "how to furnish your startup" conundrum, revisited
About 6 months ago, or longer, Jason Calacanis wrote an essay about what he viewed as the optimal setup, furniture-wise, for the productivity centre that is a startup. Jeremy wrote a response here, as well. I’m sure, things have changed, with the recession and all, but my mantra about that is… don’t dispair, just work harder. In other words, I’m ignoring the recession… just working harder. The setup of an office shouldn’t change, that’s an investment in your productivity.
This last week, I spent in Luxembourg, evaluating whether or not to take on a position in an accountancy. I may write more about this in the future, I may not, but it also confronted me with the topic of productivity in a group-environment. Writing my thesis, I think, has turned me into a “Getting Things Done” freak, reading that book hasn’t helped either, of course.
Right now, I’m working on a dated PC, with a dual screen setup, on Windows 2000, running software that keeps track of the many official documents that form the core of “being accountable,” writing on a French keyboard with crazy letter-placements… sigh. This post is, luckily, written on an international keyboard, on my trusted Mac, which would be my machine of choice as well. Oh, and we have one of the best coffee machines on the market (I will edit this post with the name tomorrow, when I’m back in the office. Edit: the magic word is SAECO), and the chairs are, afaik, of great quality.
Do Macs increase productivity?
So Jason and I agree on this at least, Macs increase productivity. That said, life is not quite that simple. Working in a group-environment, in a legal environment, puts a certain responsibility on you, that you have to produce in an environment that is compatible with everyone else. My Mac would help me, but would only work if, either, everyone had Macs, and if the software, I worked with, is cross-compatible between Windows & Macs, which this one isn’t, afaik.
What I don’t like about Windows… I could write an essay about this, but mainly that it doesn’t feel like it’s designed for most machines I work on. My Mac is a dinosaur, but I run the latest OS on it no problem. Office 2008, on the other hand, that’s a different story.
Verdict: depending on software, hardware, and co-workers / business-partners, both Windows and Macs can increase productivity. Definitely not a black & white issue.
What about dual screen setups?
Having worked with Leopard spaces, ever since I first reviewed it, I’m quite used to have different screens for different activities. However, the way it works on a Mac, when I go to a screen, I only get to see that screen. In a physical multi-screen setup, you see both screens, the advantage being, that you can keep your permanently-used apps (e.g. Word) on one screen and your once-in-while apps (e.g. Outlook) in the other. It’s also somewhat useful for copying text from one app to the other (not copy-paste, but typing out text… on a French keyboarrrrrrd, grrrr).
What I don’t like, however, is that the app-placement is not straightforward—this seems like it can be set up in the ATI-software, but I have no idea where exactly to do this. The Mac-spaces setup can also be frustrating, but is at least understandable and part of the OS. With two physical screens, it also feels like the mouse has to travel much farther, something that isn’t a problem when using multiple virtual desktops, which you can switch to at a finger-click.
My verdict: if you’re constantly switching between multiple apps, then a multi-screen setup can be useful, but I don’t see it as better than Leopard’s spaces.
Should you have a great coffee-machine?
Coming from a guy that’s been drinking green tea for several weeks now, and switched to coffee as soon as he arrived here, my answer is a big fat yes. I remember Jason writing something about saving you the trip to Starbucks. That isn’t actually a problem in Luxembourg, there’s good coffee everywhere (much like in the rest of Europe), and isn’t why I say this.
Good coffee is good for two reasons: it boosts productivity and it boosts morale. The reason coffee is so popular because we live under the reality / illusion (depending where you come from) that it wakes us up. Good coffee boosts coffee consumption and should hence boost energy.
Coffee is also popular because people love it, and people love good coffee more than bad coffee. Hence, good coffee = happier people. As a manager you can now say: look, I know I scream at you guys sometimes. But here’s some good coffee, now please get back to work. Done.
Answer: yes.
What about furniture?
I think that IKEA makes perfectly affordable furniture that works great as well (big fan), so I see this as a basic expense that every business needs to make. And you need to have furniture that allows people to be comfortable for longer periods of time. Not only the 0 to 24 hours a day, you spend in the office, but the many months to years that you will work in that same office as well.
Answer: yes, but it doesn’t have to be expensive.
Other factors?
I’m too tired to think of them now. Furnishing your office feels like spicing your food. Food will often taste fine without spices, but add the right spice and it creates taste-explosions in your mouth.
Well, that’s my sentiment. Who’s next?
Vincent
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Since buying furniture wasn’t our core business, we didn’t spend much time & effort on it. However, we made sure the necessary comfort was there (including a sofa for when someone in the team needs to take a nap). Dual screens are necessary to web developers.
I saw your office through your Skype-cam. It looked good