jan 1, 1964 - Introduction of the cubical
Description:
Prior to the invention of the cubical, open office formats ruled. Robert Propst, and George Nelson of the Herman Miller Research Corporation used many human factor studies to analyze the open office format, consulting with statisticians, psychologists, and anthropologists, and discovered many issues with an open office format. Propst and Nelson discovered that workers worked best when they could easily access and communicate with coworkers, but also had a small privatized place which they could personalize. After a failed attempt at an office redesign, eventually they found the movable walls of the cubical. While the cubical has fallen under scrutiny in the 90s and 2000s as a method of companies to cram as many personnel as they can into a small area and even Nelson came to resent the cubical as he saw it had a "dehumanizing effect as a working environment."
Added to timeline:
Human Factors
IME 319 Assignment #1
Nathan Martinez
1/15/2018
Date:
Images:
![]()
