A lot of people have a negative association with cubicles. We have been programmed to think about work and being "trapped" in the daily grind when we think about cubicles because it gives us a tangible object to which we can attach these associations. The truth of the matter is that work is not going away, and it would still be around whether or not cubicles had ever been invented. The question is: what would work life be like without cubicles?

Knock down every cubicle wall in your place of work. What you have left may at first seem like a more open, personable work environment. Now you can see your friend a few desks down and talk to them about their weekend. Maybe you have a view of the window now and can watch the cars pass by. Now imagine everyone is doing these things and you want to get some work done. Can you still concentrate on your tasks with all the new distractions?

People generally like having personal space in which they can focus on what needs to be done. There is a reason the offices at work are the more sought after work areas (not just because there is more space). People like having privacy and a place to concentrate when they have to. The cubicle provides this opportunity for almost everybody in a given workplace. It is essentially a small office where an employee can decorate to their taste with pictures and souvenirs, making them feel more at home.

Everyone needs a place to hang their coat and their name tag. They need a space to make business calls or to work on whatever project they might have on their plate at a given time. Cubicle walls do not divide or isolate us from the rest of the world; they simply provide an area to call our own when we need to get some work done.

Chris Horner writes for www.FastCubes.com.