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Reconfiguring workplaces
   Limit
Chance encounters (physical place)
Table 3.7 Illustrative evidence: Limits
Illustrative evidence
“My social interactions are not necessarily planned ‘I want to get this and this from doing something’. But it all has side effects, in the positive sense. Because then you just talked to someone, ‘Oh god, we are looking for someone for this project.’ or ‘This [project] is available.’. And then you just get it via via, just randomly you get a really cool project, which you wouldn’t have gotten through normal corporate channels like it’s supposed to go. But that’s [via social contacts] just much more convenient.” (P22, middle manager, low tenure)
“I think it was lower, just lower. No spontaneous encounters, less spontaneous encounters. Mainly that.” (P14, employee, high tenure)
“It’s really the by-chance-coffees. And that’s what you are completely missing. And plus, when I came back here [to the office], I didn’t recognize a lot of people. That was really crazy.” (P20, employee, low tenure)
“When I stand there, call it the ‘focal point’, having coffee and I see five people. When I see them, I think ‘Oh, wait’ and you pass something on to someone in one sentence like ‘Don’t forget’ or ‘Will we see each other’ or ‘Can you bring this today’.” (P24, manager, high tenure)
“Face-to-face is just different than via phone. Also, the feeling of belonging somewhere, that people see you and that you see people and that you are [TechSub] together.” (P15, employee, low tenure)
“I don’t believe in working completely virtual. I think it’s important to look people in the eye and the feel what is going on and to anticipate. That’s just not possible on the phone.” (P07, employee, low tenure)
“Usually people are really responsive via the phone or the [CWT], that’s okay [...] for tasks, it doesn’t matter that much if I see my team members virtually or face-to-face. But for knowledge sharing, inspiration, fostering team spirit, so the more soft things, there it is really important.” (P20, employee, low tenure).
“Because the way I use [CWT] or email, it can irritate each other. Or the tone of voice. And physically together, you would find out that someone has a different way of communicating. That’s what you are missing.” (P16, employee, medium tenure)
“And so, if it was something where it was more, more relational somehow or with learning [...] then we would try to schedule in person,” (P19, employee, low tenure)
    Situational richness (digital space)
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