The Biden administration, under pressure from House Republicans, has been pushing federal workers to return to the office for the sake of increased collaboration. Yet surveys of federal workers show that most believe there is little benefit from coming to the office for collaboration.

Recent research shows they may have a point.

Traditional views emphasize the necessity of physical proximity for effective teamwork, but recent research suggests otherwise. An INSEAD working paper by professors Manuel Sosa and Massimo Maoret explores how collaboration can thrive through virtual means, leveraging social connections rather than physical proximity.

Organizations have long believed that physical proximity is crucial for effective collaboration. However, Sosa and Maoret’s research challenges this notion by examining the interplay between physical and social proximity. They found that while physical closeness does facilitate communication, social proximity plays an equally if not more significant role in collaboration effectiveness. This revelation opens up new possibilities for remote and hybrid work models, emphasizing the power of building strong social networks even when employees are not co-located.

The study conducted a quasi-natural experiment with a global pharmaceutical firm, which relocated two regional offices. This relocation provided a unique opportunity to measure interpersonal physical distances and social networks before and after the move.

The findings were revealing. Employees who maintained strong social ties with their colleagues, characterized by frequent communication and mutual trust, were able to collaborate effectively regardless of physical distance. This suggests that........

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