Management Techniques and Practices for Telework and In-Office Work Within the Naval Educational and Training Command (NETC)

Abstract

This study identifies management impacts on telework (TW) and return-to-office (RTO) transitions. The literature review identifies factors that support effective management of distributed workforces and transitions from TW to onsite work. These include managerial character traits, communication tools and technology, relationship management, collaboration and engagement, agile responses to evolving policies, and mitigation of RTO challenges. Responding to the U.S. Navy’s shift in January 2025 from TW to full-time in-office work and a redistributed workforce, the study documents supervisors’ assessments of the benefits and challenges associated with the change. The applications focus on supervisors within the Naval Education and Training Command (NETC), where most people teleworked until they were required to work onsite. The Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) data collected in the summer of 2024 indicated that trust, communication, and accountability were strong at NETC; however, the transition created challenges. This capstone presents three literature-informed conceptual models that depict effective management for hybrid teams, in-office management challenges, and best practices for transitioning back to in-office work. The recommendations build on managers’ responses to the NETC-RTO survey, offering practical strategies to enhance management practices and optimize hybrid and in-office work environments within NETC’s evolving operational landscape.