Coordination of collaboration in hybrid teams (CoCoh): Development and validation of the construct

Abstract

Hybrid work, offering locational flexibility, is becoming a key aspect of contemporary work. However, its focus on the percentage of work per location overlooks the critical role of team dynamics. This study identified the role of coordination in hybrid team collaboration by defining four key components (location, time, collaboration modality, and preferences) and developed a scale to assess them. Construct conceptualization and item definitions were derived and refined through expert panels. In Study 1 Phase A, an automated item-selection algorithm identified 12 items based on psychometric enhancement (N = 775) in German and English. Confirmatory analysis showed good fit indices, reliability, validity, and measurement invariance.We tested external validity in Study 1 Phase B with a second measurement after 6 weeks (N = 245), revealing small-to-modest correlations with relevant outcome variables at individual and team levels. Study 2 offers encouraging empirical support for conceptualizing coordination of collaboration in hybrid teams as a team-level construct in hybrid settings (N = 108, 22 teams). This scale advances hybrid teamwork research with incremental validity over traditional operationalizations. It empowers teams to self-coordinate, improving satisfaction, performance, and commitment, while serving as a diagnostic tool to identify strengths and weaknesses, fostering targeted team development. This scale makes managing hybrid teams a tangible management responsibility.