MENTAL MODEL · M3216

Allen Curve

BusinessHigh supportManagement

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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

The frequency of communication among team members decreases exponentially with increasing physical distance. When the distance exceeds 30 meters, the communication frequency drops to nearly zero (even with WeChat and email). - Scaffolding role: The decisive nature of physical distance. Do not over-rely on remote work tools. If you want two departments to collaborate, the best way is not to create a group chat but to move their workstations together. Innovation often happens in chance encounters in the pantry and corridors. Physical "togetherness" is a prerequisite for chemical reactions.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

The decisive nature of physical distance. Do not over-rely on remote work tools. If you want two departments to collaborate, the best way is not to create a group chat but to move their workstations together. Innovation often happens in chance encounters in the pantry and corridors. Physical "togetherness" is a prerequisite for chemical reactions.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

The Allen curve was discovered by Thomas Allen in the 1970s while studying R&D organizations: the probability of communication between two people decays approximately exponentially with increasing physical distance, and when the distance exceeds about 30 meters (or across floors), the communication frequency drops sharply to near zero, despite the existence of electronic tools. Physical proximity reduces communication costs (chance encounters, informal communication) and is a key medium for knowledge spillovers.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

Identify teams that require high-frequency collaboration. 2. Prioritize placing their workstations physically adjacent (same floor, same area). 3. Use "third spaces" like pantries and corridors to induce chance encounters. 4. Do not over-rely on tools to replace proximity—asynchronous tools cannot replace synchronous emergence. 5. For remote collaboration, compensate with regular sync sessions and small-scale co-located sprints.

Check to track your progress (stored locally)

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Source support: Explicit

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en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_curveZH · Explicit
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