It is vital that company executives keep in close contact with both their bosses and their subordinates, it has been claimed.

Bob Frisch, managing partner of the Strategic Offsites Group, wrote on the Harvard Business Review that it is important for productivity that a chief executive have his lieutenants nearby, but it is equally significant for a lower team not to feel like their head is absent all the time.

To combat this, Mr Frisch encouraged firms not to be "oblivious" to the problem and instead to create one space for them to sit with fellow managers and another with their department. In this way, permanent and interim executives are connecting with both sides.

Reflecting on the need for physical closeness, he said: "Leaders naturally want their team sitting close to them and to one another. Frequent, informal co-ordination helps smooth the way to organisational effectiveness, and the personal bonds formed by working nearby can enhance a team's working relationships."

With the advances being made in remote connectivity, employees are increasingly able to work on the same projects from different parts of the world, rather than being in the same room.

While this can save money on travel and boost flexibility for staff, TechNewsWorld reporter Bob Janssen noted that this progress comes with its own challenges, since firms must consider how to work with the situation both from a technical perspective as well as a social point of view.

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