{"title":"Hybrid working – Benefits and challenges for productivity and performance","authors":"Simon Williams, Nicky Shaw","doi":"10.1108/ijppm-05-2023-0230","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Purpose</h3>\n<p>We explore the benefits and challenges for organisations using hybrid working practices post-pandemic. We focus upon the non-profit English social housing sector; however, this research is relevant to any organisation adopting hybrid working practices. The implications for productivity and performance management of hybrid practices are currently not well understood.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Design/methodology/approach</h3>\n<p>Within this Reflective Practice work, we apply a dual-theoretic lens to a new Ways of Working tool and adopt a mixed methods approach. First scoping interviews were conducted with senior managers possessing strategic knowledge of their organisations’ approaches to hybrid working. Secondly, a large-scale survey was administered to evaluate employees’ perceptions of hybrid working, including their concerns for future impacts.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Findings</h3>\n<p>Our data identify several benefits and challenges associated with hybrid working. Reclaimed commuting time was deemed a positive benefit, alongside greater personal time, work-life balance and (for the majority) less-interrupted workspace. Challenges were identified regarding the transparency of staff reward and recognition, the potential for masked burnout and purposeful team communication.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Research limitations/implications</h3>\n<p>Due to the unique context of the pandemic and widespread, but sudden adoption of home- and hybrid working, this study can be taken as a snapshot in time as organisations recalibrate the consequences of new ways of working.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->\n<h3>Originality/value</h3>\n<p>Despite hybrid working having been possible for decades, many articles describe typical benefits (e.g. less commuting time) and challenges (e.g. organisational culture) without fully understanding productivity and performance implications. To explore this, we extend Palvalin <em>et al</em>.’s (2015) Tool by establishing a theoretical foundation through the conservation of resources theory and practice theory.</p><!--/ Abstract__block -->","PeriodicalId":47944,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ijppm-05-2023-0230","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"MANAGEMENT","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose
We explore the benefits and challenges for organisations using hybrid working practices post-pandemic. We focus upon the non-profit English social housing sector; however, this research is relevant to any organisation adopting hybrid working practices. The implications for productivity and performance management of hybrid practices are currently not well understood.
Design/methodology/approach
Within this Reflective Practice work, we apply a dual-theoretic lens to a new Ways of Working tool and adopt a mixed methods approach. First scoping interviews were conducted with senior managers possessing strategic knowledge of their organisations’ approaches to hybrid working. Secondly, a large-scale survey was administered to evaluate employees’ perceptions of hybrid working, including their concerns for future impacts.
Findings
Our data identify several benefits and challenges associated with hybrid working. Reclaimed commuting time was deemed a positive benefit, alongside greater personal time, work-life balance and (for the majority) less-interrupted workspace. Challenges were identified regarding the transparency of staff reward and recognition, the potential for masked burnout and purposeful team communication.
Research limitations/implications
Due to the unique context of the pandemic and widespread, but sudden adoption of home- and hybrid working, this study can be taken as a snapshot in time as organisations recalibrate the consequences of new ways of working.
Originality/value
Despite hybrid working having been possible for decades, many articles describe typical benefits (e.g. less commuting time) and challenges (e.g. organisational culture) without fully understanding productivity and performance implications. To explore this, we extend Palvalin et al.’s (2015) Tool by establishing a theoretical foundation through the conservation of resources theory and practice theory.
期刊介绍:
■Organisational design and methods ■Performance management ■Performance measurement tools and techniques ■Process analysis, engineering and re-engineering ■Quality and business excellence management Articles can address these topics theoretically or empirically through either a descriptive or critical approach. The co-Editors support articles that significantly bring new knowledge to the area both for academics and practitioners. The material for publication in IJPPM should be written in a manner which makes it accessible to its entire wide-ranging readership. Submissions of highly technical or mathematically-oriented papers are discouraged.