ALMA software group: transitioning to hybrid working model

The COVID-19 pandemic forced some ALMA Observatory’s teams to change their working models from observatory on-site or office-based to fully remote. The performance results obtained by the groups during this emergency evidenced that a hybrid working model would be suitable to be implemented in the long term, especially for the teams that concentrate their activities out of the observatory site or Santiago’s offices. Science and computing groups were the most suitable teams for adopting a different working model. There were many lessons learned from this experience which contributed to establishing a permanent hybrid model. The ALMA Software group, consisting of 18 engineers, transitioned in this direction taking into consideration all the knowledge learned during the pandemic and developing a smooth and successful experience by maintaining productivity levels and cohesive team spirit despite the physical location of the group members. This paper provides an overview of key considerations, challenges, and benefits associated with the shift towards a hybrid working model. Factors/challenges such as technological infrastructure, communication and collaboration, collaborators' well-being and performance metrics are analyzed from the manager/supervisors' point of view. The paper also describes the challenges that the group will face shortly, and the actions developed to mitigate the risks and disadvantages of the new working environment.