Abstract:
Hybrid work has emerged as a new approach to work following the arrival of the Coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic. Research points to the lack of understanding about how the adoption
of hybrid work structures affects the interactions and collaboration efforts among team
members in both the physical office and remote environments. Furthermore, with the shift
towards hybrid work, businesses face the challenge of maintaining strong team collaboration,
cohesiveness and communication among team members who work both in the office and
remotely. The purpose of this research was to understand how this sudden shift in the work
environment influences how team members interact and collaborate with one another to meet
team objectives.
The study employed an exploratory qualitative research approach. A total of 15 participants
were identified, however, only 14 semi-structured interviews were conducted with individuals
occupying different roles within the Financial Services Industry. The number of interviews
conducted versus the number of participants identified was noted when analysing data.
The findings reflect both positive and negative influences on teams operating within hybrid
work environments, that can be used by businesses considering this new model of work.
Furthermore, the findings contribute to the body of literature on hybrid working environments
and provide greater insights into understanding the factors influencing collaboration within these envirenments.