Hybrid Work Physicalizations: How People Take Information From Physical Artifacts in Hybrid Workplaces

In the digital transformation of work into hybrid work, the importance of physical artifacts has remained niche. In this paper, we introduce the notion of “hybrid work physicalization” to explore how people take information from physical artifacts in the hybrid workplace. In a qualitative diary study, thirteen hybrid workers reported on their work-day experiences with haptic and other sensory interactions with physical artifacts. We uncover two main and four subcategories of hybrid work physicalizations that occur in workplaces in homes and main worksites. These results are discussed in terms of implications for the IS literature on material aspects of digital transformations of work and theorizing the hybridity and haptics of physical artifacts. Implications for future design science research on hybrid work physicalizations are outlined.