Sometimes, we have to remind ourselves that offices had to be invented. Over time, they’ve evolved to meet our changing needs and expectations. Now that COVID-19 has upended office life worldwide, understanding ways the office has evolved can help us frame the changes happening today.
With the help of historians, architects and stories from HBR readers, HBR took a look at four key moments in modern offices: cubicles, telecommuting, PCs and email.