For decades, companies have been experimenting with the idea of passive collaboration, flexible work practices.

With many finding the advantages of doing so.

The overwhelming majority of businesses, however, were convinced only after an ongoing pandemic.

Businesses all over the world were forced to switch to remote work with the arrival of COVID-19 in 2020.

Although, some companies were better equipped than others.

However, the transition to a fully remote workforce has proven challenging for everyone.

Technology such as video conferencing and the cloud have made remote work possible.

Moreover, we do not have a complete substitute for in-person work.

Because we continue to struggle in the area of passive collaboration.

The best work is done in groups, when challenges, difficulties, and brainstorming are explored.

Video-conferencing platforms and other collaborative applications operate together actively.

The technology industry has paved the way for employee design innovations for decades.

In essence, technology is providing spaces and benefits that reduce connectivity and productivity.

Therefore, we must find new ways to encourage employee productivity and creativity when searching for a hybrid working climate.

We can only be in a position to achieve passive collaboration when we have a technically activated potential for remote and hybrid working conditions.

What is lacking today, however, are moments of spontaneous dedication that energise us and invite us to entertain new concepts that would not otherwise be addressed.

Since passive collaboration is so important in fostering creativity, this will have a negative effect on innovation in the long run.

Active teamwork can be accomplished by video conferencing apps and emails, but the spontaneous bursts of creativity that occur in office hallways cannot be replicated.

We need tools that allow us to observe what others do without the constraints of a set meeting time or email updates.

The foundation of innovation is a free and open exchange of ideas, but we have yet to find out how to make this a viable virtual world.

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