Teams’ Perception of Driving Forces and Challenges on Psychological Safety in Relation to Different Work-Setting Arrangements (remote, hybrid, on-site)

Abstract: The study has explored the teams’ perceptions of driving forces and challenges of psychological safety (PS) in three different work-setting arrangements (WSAs), which are remote, hybrid, and on-site. These findings were discovered by interviewing three teams, each of which worked in different WSAs, and by asking them questions about what factors influence their PS. After that, thematic analysis was used to reveal all the commonalities and differences between the different replies and relate each to its WSA. We found 31 driving forces of PS, and some of them were shared between all three WSAs, which were team demography, constructive feedback, leadership style(s) (e.g. supportive leader), as well as having a good and supportive environment. Among those 31 driving forces of PS, there were some differences between the three teams, and 4 of them were closely associated with WSAs: flexibility, organizational policies, social activities, and motivational sense of the presence of others. We also found 28 challenges of PS, and only one of them was common for all three WSAs, which was lack of knowledge (from teams and the leader). Among those 28 challenges, there were some differences between the three teams, and 4 of them were closely associated with WSAs: working in silos, familiarity, lack of personal connection, and lack of monitoring. Therefore, it is discovered that WSA can influence PS but it is not the only factor that matters.