Does hybrid working promote collaboration and creativity? An empirical study

Abstract

The last few years have forced organizations to look for novel methods of collaborative work in the constrained environment of the pandemic. Much research is underway to evaluate these new modes of working, as productivity and creativity continue to be critical to firms even in this new environment. This research focuses on how trust and cohesiveness within a team interact with information technology features in a hybrid environment to impact their group processes, promoting creativity. We use an Activity Theory framework to model the relationship between digital platform features, collaborative processes, and creative outcomes. The findings tentatively establish the basic hypothesis of the research that in a hybrid environment, the relational and trust capital of a team and an appropriate digital platform can promote healthy collaborative processes leading to creative outcomes. The study can help guide the design of technology platforms that are conducive to productive collaborative activities and creative learning.