The Hybrid (Combined Virtual / Traditional Office) Work Environment: Implications for Social Networks In Organizations

The purpose is to determine whether organizational social networks are changed when hybrid (virtual / traditional office) work options are introduced.  The overall objective of this paper is to identify the influence, if any, of the hybrid work environment on the fabric of the organization; specifically changes in the nodes and links and in “structural holes” (Burt, 1992).  In this study, the organizational business units represent nodes; and the links are based on the relational connections between the agents (hybrid workforce).  The description of the structural hole(s) includes the new, existing, or revised position of brokers.  Likewise, unfilled structural holes are identified (Burt, 1992).

Keywords: social network analysis; organizations; structural holes