--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The bald fact is that many companies…" description: "\"“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 frustr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/tom-demarco-12134_good-people_the-bald-fact-is-that-many-companies-pro_1634760.png" --- # The bald fact is that many companies provide developers… ![“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/tom-demarco-12134_good-people_the-bald-fact-is-that-many-companies-pro_1634760.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/tom-demarco-12134_good-people_the-bald-fact-is-that-many-companies-pro_1634760.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/tom-demarco-12134_good-people_the-bald-fact-is-that-many-companies-pro_1634760.png) > ““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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-demarco/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crowded Noisy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crowded-noisy-516752/) [Developers Workplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developers-workplace-516751/) [Good people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) [Noisy Interruptive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noisy-interruptive-516753/) [Productivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/productivity/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Workplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workplace/) [Workplace Crowded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/workplace-crowded-516750/) ## Related quotes > [Why Ho Chi Minh City? It is crowded, noisy, scruffy, crazy, but always interesting and things are happening all at a break neck speed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-rice/why-ho-chi-minh-city-it-is-crowded-noisy-scruffy-crazy-but-always/) [Doug Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-rice/) > [“Appearance is stressed far too much in workplace design. What is more relevant is whether the workplace lets you work or inhibits you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-demarco/appearance-is-stressed-far-too-much-in-workplace-design-what-is-more/) [Tom DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-demarco/) > [I also think that employees these days expect less of a separation of work and personal life. That doesn't mean that work tasks should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-benioff/i-also-think-that-employees-these-days-expect-less-of-a-separation-of/) [Marc Benioff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-benioff/) > [“You can’t quit the team, come back and think your spot is still there unless you were the best player…. Even then, the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niedria-dionne-kenny/you-can-t-quit-the-team-come-back-and-think-your-spot-is-still-there/) [Niedria Dionne Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niedria-dionne-kenny/) > [In general, workers under 35 highly value Millennials' ability to relate, be helpful, be open-minded, and be understanding. 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Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [If mass media, social isolation in the suburbs, alienating workplaces and long car commutes create a bunker mentality, the Internet does the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-steffen/if-mass-media-social-isolation-in-the-suburbs-alienating-workplaces/) [Alex Steffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-steffen/) > [We have held forums here at the White House on workplace flexibility, and the first major bill signed into law by President Obama was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-jarrett/we-have-held-forums-here-at-the-white-house-on-workplace-flexibility/) [Valerie Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-jarrett/) > [What business needs now is exactly what women are able to provide, and at the very time when women are surging into the work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-helgesen/what-business-needs-now-is-exactly-what-women-are-able-to-provide-and/) [Sally Helgesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-helgesen/) > [The mission for the day is to encourage students to think beyond traditional career opportunities, prepare for future careers and entrance into the workplace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-tate/the-mission-for-the-day-is-to-encourage-students-to-think-beyond/) [Allen Tate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-tate/) > [The first major issue you need to consider when focusing on today's workers: You have to know what motivates them. If you think it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-rottenberg/the-first-major-issue-you-need-to-consider-when-focusing-on-today-s/) [Linda Rottenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-rottenberg/) > [I do interview senior candidates at the home office or many of our hotel or restaurant General Manager candidates. My two favorite questions are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/i-do-interview-senior-candidates-at-the-home-office-or-many-of-our/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [There's nothing wrong with looking like a woman and going in the workplace and doing everything a man can do but looking 1,000 percent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-looking-like-a-woman-and-going-in-the/) [Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/) ## More by Tom DeMarco > [“More important than any gimmick you introduce is a change in attitude. People must learn that it’s okay sometimes not to answer their phones,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-demarco/more-important-than-any-gimmick-you-introduce-is-a-change-in-attitude/) [Tom DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-demarco/) > [“We have become so obsessed with getting rid of people who are burdened with the characterization overhead that we have ended up with organizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-demarco/we-have-become-so-obsessed-with-getting-rid-of-people-who-are/) [Tom DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-demarco/) > [The more you focus on control, the more likely you're working on a project that's striving to deliver something of relatively minor value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-demarco/the-more-you-focus-on-control-the-more-likely-you-re-working-on-a/) [Tom DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-demarco/) > [Product quality has almost nothing to do with defects or their lack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-demarco/product-quality-has-almost-nothing-to-do-with-defects-or-their-lack/) [Tom DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-demarco/) > [“Internal competition has the direct effect of making coaching difficult or impossible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-demarco/internal-competition-has-the-direct-effect-of-making-coaching/) [Tom DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-demarco/) > [“People under time pressure don’t work better—they just work faster.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-demarco/people-under-time-pressure-don-t-work-better-they-just-work-faster/) [Tom DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-demarco/) > [“The most obvious defensive management ploys are prescriptive Methodologies (“My people are too dumb to build systems without them” ) and technical interference by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-demarco/the-most-obvious-defensive-management-ploys-are-prescriptive/) [Tom DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-demarco/) > [“The need for uniformity is a sign of insecurity on the part of management. 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What matters more is being best. And that’s a long-term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-demarco/in-the-best-organizations-the-short-term-is-not-the-only-thing-that/) [Tom DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-demarco/) > [“Although your staff may be exposed to the message “work longer and harder” while they’re at the office, they’re getting a very different message…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-demarco/although-your-staff-may-be-exposed-to-the-message-work-longer-and/) [Tom DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-demarco/) > [Computer system analysis is like child-rearing; you can do grievous damage, but you cannot ensure success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-demarco/computer-system-analysis-is-like-child-rearing-you-can-do-grievous/) [Tom DeMarco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-demarco/) [Explore all 56 Tom DeMarco quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-demarco/) ## More Good people quotes > [“Any discussion of money and success would be lacking if I did not state that money is neither good nor bad. In the hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-stovall/any-discussion-of-money-and-success-would-be-lacking-if-i-did-not/) [Jim Stovall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-stovall/) > [From what I have seen, I am driven to the conclusion that religion is only good for good people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mccarthy/from-what-i-have-seen-i-am-driven-to-the-conclusion-that-religion-is/) [Mary McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mccarthy/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Constantly look for the good in people and in situations. When you find it, tell the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/constantly-look-for-the-good-in-people-and-in-situations-when-you/) [Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/) > [Life is all about experiences and being able to work with good people is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhumika-chawla/life-is-all-about-experiences-and-being-able-to-work-with-good-people/) [Bhumika Chawla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhumika-chawla/) > [Good people do not let others suffer needlessly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/good-people-do-not-let-others-suffer-needlessly/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [Freedom and liberty lose out by default because good people are not vigilant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/freedom-and-liberty-lose-out-by-default-because-good-people-are-not/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Good people are found not changed. Recently I read a headline that said, 'We don't teach people to be nice. We simply hire nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/good-people-are-found-not-changed-recently-i-read-a-headline-that/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [One of the things that I miss about Canada is that even the strangers, you have an immediate rapport, there's just an understanding that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evangeline-lilly/one-of-the-things-that-i-miss-about-canada-is-that-even-the-strangers/) [Evangeline Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evangeline-lilly/) > [“...I'd be interested in any tips you have for somebody starting out.” “Uh-huh,” I said, looking out the window. 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But such good people won't want to spend their time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osamu-dazai/i-want-to-spend-my-time-with-people-who-don-t-look-to-be-respected/) [Osamu Dazai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osamu-dazai/) [Browse all 2,064 Good people quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-people/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“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. 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