The Partnership & Community Collaboration Academy and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Conservation Training Center conducted an evaluation of “How the Hybrid Workplace Affects Collaborative Practices” for the Managing by Network Program. 

The results of this applied evaluation were published earlier in 2024, and were designed to help our federal community of practice better understand the success factors necessary to collaborate in the hybrid workplace that combines both virtual and in-person meeting spaces and public engagement mechanisms. 

It also provides insights for our federal agency co-hosts and the Academy on how we may adapt training to best support partnership practice in this changing work environment.  

Program Evaluation Focus

The Covid-19 pandemic prompted fundamental changes in federal workplace practices starting in Spring 2020. In addition to a sudden shift from primarily onsite to primarily online/telework workspaces, the government rapidly adopted collaborative technologies such as MS Teams and Zoom, to support internal teamwork and external partnerships. 

Starting in 2021, many federal employees who had been teleworking began returning to onsite offices and spaces, but guidance and requirements have varied among departments, agencies, regions and job responsibilities. Instead of a “return to normal”, federal employees and their partners are navigating another new space—the hybrid workplace. Expectations continue to evolve regarding what collaboration, teamwork and public engagement look like in practice when some people are onsite, and others are online.

The evaluation explored timely questions such as:

How is the shift to a hybrid workplace affecting collaboration practices of federal agencies working with external partners?

What special skills, competencies, practices and tools are essential for successful collaboration with external partners when working in a hybrid workplace?

Looking ahead, what are the key trends or issues facing federal agencies as they strive to successfully partner in this “new normal” hybrid workplace? Is it here to stay

Summary of Evaluation Findings

The Evaluation Findings shed light on many of the perceived benefits and challenges of this “new normal” for public lands partnerships. It also identifies critical questions for federal agency leadership and decision makers to consider such as:

How is my agency preparing its partnership practitioners to be successful in the hybrid collaboration space? 

What opportunities might exist to better coordinate with sister agencies pertaining to this question?

Read the Briefing Document to learn about the key take-aways from the survey findings. And a special “thank you” to the survey respondents for taking the time to share your valuable experiences and perspectives!