Scientific Coordination: Gilda Antonelli, Roberta Cuel, Barbara Imperatori, Aurelio Ravarini, Teresina Torre
Research context
The idea that work no longer necessarily has to be done in the office has now entered the common understanding. A significant push in this direction took place during the pandemic, when the use of this mode of work organisation (present in the Italian legal system since 2017 by virtue of Law 81) – albeit in the most ‘reductive’ form possible (that of working from home) – was strongly urged and numerous private and public organisations had to, could and wanted to experiment with it. The most recent sectoral reports (OECD in 2019 and 2021) show how companies are reacting to competitive, social and environmental challenges also through the reorganisation of working arrangements.
The post-pandemic phase is favouring the spread of hybrid modes, in which days in presence are combined with others of remote work. This solution, on the one hand, seems to respond to workers’ demand to be able to continue working remotely and, on the other, seems to mitigate the criticalities that have emerged in organisations that have adopted fully remote working.
In this context, the international literature has long grappled with the problems and opportunities associated with the design of new ways of organising work and hybrid work, addressing the various related issues involving not only the worker and the organisation, but the broader competitive, legislative and institutional context.
Through cross-disciplinary comparison and the adoption of different research approaches, this track intends to promote debate on the organisational, managerial and institutional challenges that are pushing workers, companies and society towards the adoption of new hybrid solutions and renewed forms of governance of labour relations.
Type of paper expected
The objective of the track is to stimulate discussion through theoretical and applicative contributions that test managerial models and theories and propose new paradigms, deepening current experiences and proposing interpretative keys, also interdisciplinary, useful to those who intend to face and unravel the knots of the new hybrid organisational forms from the point of view of the worker, the organisation and the social system. The intention is to develop a critical reflection that produces value for all those involved in the reorganisation of work.
Suggested topic areas
Contributions may refer to – but are not limited to – the following topics of discussion:
• Defining aspects and characteristics of hybrid work and hybrid organisations
• Re-design of organisational structure and practices
• Workers’ skills and behaviour and new organisational roles
• New people and work management practices
• Coordination and control arrangements
• New forms and labour relations
• Digitisation, artificial intelligence and work
• Experiences: strengths and weaknesses.
Possibility of publication
Contributions presented at the conference will be considered for publication in the Special Issue of Perspectives in Organisation, Smart (remote) work section.