The now ubiquitous and often maligned office cubicle is now 40, reports Dan Meisler from the Michigan Business Review. Reportedly, the office cubicle originated in 1968 in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the US, when a team of researchers and designers decided to alter their office configuration with furniture arranged differently. The seemingly simple change in how office furniture was laid out can be termed as a defining moment in the 'interior design' of offices.

The original office cubicle system was then just called "Action Office" and contributed to a more relaxed and flexible workspace. However, one of the key advantages of using an office cubicle system-- the organization that it accords-- has also been one of the aspects most criticized in recent times. Critics term office cubicles as among the most de-humanizing elements of an office, bestowing the latter with a monotony that an office could do much better without. The office cubicle is also the setting for some great workplace humour and satire -- remember Dilbert?

No matter what, office cubicles are now an integral part of the workplace and they are here to stay. Moreover, they have undergone quite a bit of evolution in the last 40 years.

For those interested in reading a bit more about the origin of this integral component of a modern office, read the article here.