Valley Tech Giants Ditch Cubicles for Open Space

Silicon Valley giants like Intel, Cisco, and Sun, are experimenting with ditching cubicles to improve productivity. Execs at the companies say that the typical office gray maze isn't ideal anymore for the modern, connected workplace. "Collaboration has been shown to spark innovation and speed product to market," says a designer at an office architectural firm.

On the other hand, some who've made the transition at Cisco say that there are a few downsides. One worker was sad that she'd no longer have a place to keep her stuff (like a ficus tree), but later warmed to the new workplace, the San Jose Mercury News reports. "I hope I never have to go back to cubes," says one senior manager. (More cubicle stories.)