The Influence of hybrid working environments on team collaboration and the productivity of a team

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.