Productivity and Collaboration in Hybrid Agile Teams: An Interview Study

TL;DR

This study explores how hybrid work impacts Agile team productivity and collaboration, highlighting challenges like reduced informal interaction and the importance of trust and digital tools.

Contribution

It provides empirical insights into the effects of hybrid work on Agile teams and suggests tailored structures for improved inclusion and performance.

Findings

Hybrid work reduces informal interactions

Digital tools are crucial for team coordination

Trust and communication mediate team effectiveness

Abstract

Hybrid work has become a reality post-pandemic, transforming how Agile teams deliver value, collaborate, and adapt. This study investigate how hybrid settings influence productivity and collaboration through nine interviews with three Norwegian Agile teams. Our findings show that hybrid work reduces informal interaction, creates uneven participation, and increases reliance on digital tools. Agile ceremonies became alignment anchors, while trust, communication, and tool support mediate team effectiveness. Hybrid Agile work is an evolving field that requires tailored structures to support inclusion, team cohesion, and sustainable performance.