What is the physical limit of effective collocation?

• A. 30 feet
• B. 60 feet
• C. 90 feet
• D. 120 feet

Answer: (B)

Proximity drives collaboration. When people are physically close, conversations happen in real time, nonverbal cues are immediate, and you can point to a board or go over to a teammate’s desk without planning a formal meeting. That instant, informal communication keeps everyone aligned and speeds up problem solving, which is the essence of effective collocation.

The physical limit is the distance within which those rapid, face-to-face interactions stay effortless. Stay within this proximity, and teams can share context, ask quick questions, and adjust course on the fly. Once you’re beyond that range, conversations become less spontaneous and more reliant on scheduled meetings or digital tools, which introduces latency and fragments understanding. That’s why the commonly cited limit for effective collocation is a short, easy-to-share space—roughly within sixty feet.