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Good people Quote by Tom DeMarco

“The bald fact is that many companies provide developers with a workplace that is so crowded, noisy, and interruptive as to fill their days with frustration. That alone could explain reduced efficiency as well as a tendency for good people to migrate elsewhere.” quote by Tom DeMarco
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““The bald fact is that many companies provide developers with a workplace that is so crowded, noisy, and interruptive as to fill their days with frustration. That alone could explain reduced efficiency as well as a tendency for good people to migrate elsewhere.””

Tom DeMarco

About This Quote

Source Article: The Mythical Man-Month, 1975

Crowded, noisy, and interruptive workplaces cause frustration, reducing efficiency and prompting talent to leave.

In simple terms: Bad office environments lower productivity and drive staff away.

Key Takeaway

Improve workspace design to retain talent.

Themes

productivity workplace design talent retention employee wellbeing

Mood

frustrated concerned

Type

advisory observational

When to use this quote

  • software development teams
  • open office layouts
  • remote work decisions
  • coworking spaces

Key Concepts

environmental psychology organizational behavior

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you redesign your workspace to minimize interruptions?
  • What policies can protect developers from constant noise?
A Different Perspective

Even with better design, some interruptions are inevitable.

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