Is having a tidy desk a part of your performance evaluation? People have different tolerances and comfort zones when it comes to "tidy". At the extremes, some people can’t work with any clutter around them while others are more comfortable with a lot of clutter.
In the Reuters article, Have a Messy Desk? Congrats, You’re More Productive, the tidiness/clutter issue is addressed from both sides, although a study showed that a cluttered desk equates to greater productivity. Perhaps the particular group studied happened to have more people who work best with a cluttered desk, or on average most people are more comfortable with clutter.
Assuming that the provided workspace is adequate for what the person is expected to accomplish, the tidiness/clutter issue relating to productivity is a matter of innate personal preference. We all know that inadequate workspace can hinder a person’s productivity. Software Asset Management cannot function in a cubical space only. The tidiness/clutter principle can be seen in any environment. Do all of your family members operate on the same tidy/clutter level? I think not.
If your evaluator is a neat freak and downgrades your evaluation because you aren’t, perhaps s/he could benefit from reading this article. The more comfortable a person is in his/her environment, the more productive.
However, if the clutter includes software media, the gate is wide open for damage, theft and piracy. Even unlocked desk drawers are not sacred when it comes to software media.
