The impact of remote work on productivity

I see a lot of discussions on LinkedIn regarding the impact of remote work on productivity. Instead of jumping to conclusions, we need to dig deeper and assess the factors that influence the relationship between remote work and productivity.

One of the factors influencing the impact of remote work on productivity is the company's prevailing coordination mechanisms.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has become the new norm, proving to be both feasible and effective.

However, the impact of remote work on performance varies by company. Organizations that rely on mutual adjustment, some form of standardization, or culture as their primary coordination mechanisms may experience higher productivity with remote work. This is because employees tend to remain available beyond working hours (it's hard to fully disconnect when your living space doubles as your office) and save time and energy by avoiding commutes.

On the other hand, companies that rely heavily on supervision as their main form of coordination are likely to see a decline in performance, as remote work makes it harder to closely monitor employees. Again, coordination is just one factor to consider when evaluating the effect of remote work on productivity.