Annoyed Quote by Robert X. Cringely
“Hewlett Packard at one point had only three private offices. One belonged to Hewlett, one to Packard, and the third to a guy named Paul Ely who annoyed so many coworkers with his bellowing on the phone that the company finally extended his cubicle walls to the ceiling.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Hard Drive: Bill Gates and the Making of the Microsoft Empire, 1992
The anecdote illustrates how disruptive personalities can lead to unconventional workplace solutions, like expanding a noisy coworker’s space.
In simple terms: A noisy coworker’s behavior caused the company to give him a larger cubicle.
Key Takeaway
Consider how personality clashes affect office design.
Themes
workplace culture
personality conflict
environmental design
Mood
informative
humorous
Type
observational
narrative
When to use this quote
- team meetings
- office redesign
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
office layout
employee relations
corporate anecdotes
Questions to Reflect On
- What policies could manage disruptive behavior without physical changes?
- How does office design influence employee morale?
A Different Perspective
Expanding space may not address underlying behavioral issues.
![“Be annoyed and sin not" ~R. Alan Woods [2012]” quote by R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/742/r-alan-woods-1455_annoyed_be-annoyed-and-sin-not-r-alan-woods-2012_64285.jpg)
