VMware Research Reveals Hybrid IT Operations Challenges, Opportunities

With the move toward employing more remote workers than ever before, it's not always clear what the best model is for enterprises seeking to innovate.

VMware released a report on Nov. 29 titled, "The Distributed Work Dilemma: When Innovation and Job Satisfaction Compete" that sheds some light on the issue. The report is based on a study commissioned by VMware and conducted by Vanson Bourne that surveyed 5,300 IT decision-makers and employee-level respondents.

Among the top-level findings is that 66% of respondents said that when employees are actually in the office, enterprises are more innovative. That said, that's not where most individuals have the most job satisfaction, with 82% preferring to have a work-from-anywhere model to be satisfied.

"The most surprising findings showcased that respondents believe innovation happens best when employees are in the office, but job satisfaction is higher with anywhere work policies," Renu Upadhyay, vice president of product marketing, End User Computing, at VMware, told ITPro Today. "This means a hybrid work environment, where teams have a mix of in-office and virtual collaboration, is likely to have the biggest positive outcome for companies."

The report also found that where hybrid working policies are in place, 57% of respondents said that it increases morale and 55% said it actually increases collaboration.

Related:The Future of Work Is Hybrid

In addition, more than half (57%) of respondents with anywhere and hybrid working policies — where they can work in an office and remotely — report increased morale, creativity (56%), and collaboration (55%) within their teams since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

VMware Report Reveals Key Metrics for Monitoring Innovation Levels with Hybrid Operations

Measuring innovation isn't just an abstract operation for modern organizations.

The report, Upadhyay said, found that the top three metrics organizations use to measure innovation are:

Other qualifiers for innovation include:

"It's worth noting that the top two ways of measuring innovation are both qualitative, people-focused metrics, while the bottom two ways of measuring are quantitative, product-focused metrics," Upadhyay said. "This could be correlated with the trend toward innovation favoring in-person collaboration."

Related:Organizations Increasingly Employ Borderless Technology Talent

Upadhyay added that for anywhere and remote work policies, these metrics are important to track because they can provide insights into how employees are performing while they are not in the office, and measure how this impacts innovation.

Other Highlights from Distributed Work Dilemma Report

The report also had several additional key findings, including:

How to Improve Digital Culture and Hybrid Operations

Whether in-person or working remotely, having a digital culture that helps employees feel connected is critical.

Over the next 12 months, almost three quarters (72%) of organizations surveyed are planning to invest significantly more in their digital culture.

"With organizations facing increased talent shortages and burnout, there's a craving for more tools and training that can help alleviate current challenges," Upadhyay said. "Organizations should be investing in collaboration tools, automation, and team-building policies that optimize innovation instead of waiting for the day employees make a full return to the office."