Received:
2020-12-10 | Accepted:
2021-01-28 | Published:
2021-03-30
Title
Characteristics of distance work organization in SMEs during the COVID-19 lockdown: case of western Lithuania region
Abstract
The article is based on the findings of the applied research project Assessment of the Effectiveness of COVID-19-Related Restrictions on Economic Activity and the Impact of State Intervention Measures on Enterprises in the Klaipėda Region (No. P-COV-20-51). The aim of the research is to reveal the characteristics of distance work in small and medium business enterprises of Klaipėda Region in the context of COVID-19. The main research question focuses on how the variety of work activities be realized in distance way and to what extent is it effective? To identify the situation, a mixed research methodology, quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (focus group) research methods were used. 73 business entities participated in the survey, and 7 focus group discussions were organised remotely in 7 municipalities, with the participation of 61 respondents (on average, 8 in each group). The research findings revealed that the problems of distance work in SME‘s were generally an under-researched topic, and the definition and concept of distance work varied. Problems emerged that could be divided into two subgroups: the first related to the IT infrastructure(a shortage of equipment, Internet disruption and the resulting increased costs), while the second subgroup concerned mainly human factors (the issues of employees' communication skills and attitudes or emotions when working remotely, lack of methodology for organising distance work, etc.). It is worth adding that, in the course of the current research, identification of a broader field of problems and discussions of their causes were possible due to the cooperation of researchers-representatives of various scientific areas.
Keywords
distance work, COVID-19, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME)
JEL classifications
O32
, O33
, O15
, O11
URI
http://jssidoi.org/jesi/article/776
DOI
Pages
210-225
Funding
This research was funded by Lithuania Research Council, grant number P-COV-20-5
This is an open access issue and all published articles are licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
References
Arvola, R., Tint, P. & Kristjuhan, U. (2017). Employer attitude towards telework in real estate sector, In Economic Science For Rural Development (pp. 15–22). Jelgava: Latvian University of Life Sciences. https://llufb.llu.lv/conference/economic_science_rural/2017/Latvia_ESRD_46_2017-15-22.pdf
Search via ReFindit
Barber, L. K., & Santuzzi, A. M. (2015). Please respond ASAP: Workplace telepressure and employee recovery. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 20(2), 172–189. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0038278
Search via ReFindit
Bathini D. R., Kandathil G. M. (2019). An Orchestrated Negotiated Exchange: Trading Home-Based Telework for Intensified Work. Bus Ethics (2019) 154:411–423 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-017-3449-y
Search via ReFindit
Bendaly, N. (2020). Your Team Is Now Working Remotely 5 Ways to Strengthen Communication and Team Cohesion in the COVID-19 World, Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolebendaly/2020/03/20/your-team-is-now-working-remotely5-ways-to-strengthen-communication-and-team-cohesion-in-the-covid-19-world/?sh=6d681eb85b70
Search via ReFindit
Brown Matt I., Prewett Matthew S., Grossenbacher Michael A. (2020). Distancing Ourselves From Geographic Dispersion: An Examination of Perceived Virtuality in Teams. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice. American Psychological Association, 24(3), 168 –185 ISSN: 1089-2699 http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/gdn0000120
Search via ReFindit
Bunce, M., Wright, K., Scott, M. (2018). Our newsroom in the cloud: Slack, virtual newsrooms and journalistic practice. New Media & Society, 20, 3381–3399. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1461444817748955
Search via ReFindit
Burbules, N. C., Callister, T. A. (2000). Universities in Transition: The promise and the challenge of new technologies. Teachers College Record, 102(2), 271-293 https://doi.org/10.1111/0161-4681.00056
Search via ReFindit
Burrell D. N. (2020). Understanding The Talent Management Intricacies Of Remote Cybersecurity Teams In Covid-19 Induced Telework Organizational Ecosystems. Revista Academiei Forţelor Terestre, 3(99) https://doi.org/10.2478/raft-2020-0028
Search via ReFindit
Creswell, J., Plano Clark, Vicki. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed methods research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Search via ReFindit
Denscombe, M. (2007). The good research guide for small-scale social research projects. (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Search via ReFindit
Dingel J.I. , Neiman B. (2020). How Many Jobs Can Be Done at Home? NBER Working Paper No. 26948. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w26948/revisions/w26948.rev0.pdf
Search via ReFindit
Dixon K.R., Panteli, N. (2010). From virtual teams to virtuality in teams. Human Relations, 63, 1177–1197. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0018726709354784
Search via ReFindit
Draft Law No XII-2462 on the Approval, Coming into Force and Implementation of the Labour Code of the Republic of Lithuania. 21 June 2016 https://e-seimas.lrs.lt/portal/legalAct/lt/TAD/da9eea30a61211e8aa33fe8f0fea665f?jfwid=-k3id7tf7e
Search via ReFindit
Eckhardt A., Giordano A., Endter F., Somers P. (2019). Three Stages to a Virtual Workforce. MIS Quarterly Executive, 18(1) http://docplayer.net/136068266-Three-stages-to-a-virtual-workforce-1.html
Search via ReFindit
Fleetwood S. (2007). Why work–life balance now? The International Journal of Human Resource Management, 18(3), 387–400. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585190601167441
Search via ReFindit
Gallacherand G., Iqbal H. (2020). Remote Work and Employment Dynamics under COVID-19: Evidence from Canada. Canadian Public Policy / Analyse de politiques, http://dx.doi.org/10.3138/cpp.2020-026
Search via ReFindit
Gillies, D. (2019). Agile bodies: a new imperative in neoliberal governance. Journal of Education Policy, 26(2), 207-223, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2010.508177
Search via ReFindit
Gilson, L. L., Maynard, M. T., Young, N. C. J., Vartiainen, M., & Hakonen, M. (2015). Virtual teams research: 10 years, 10 themes, and 10 opportunities. Journal of Management, 41, 1313–1337. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0149206314559946
Search via ReFindit
Golden T. D. (2009). Applying technology to work: toward a better understanding of telework. Organization Management Journal, 6, 241–250 https://doi.org/10.1057/omj.2009.33
Search via ReFindit
Grant Ch.A., Wallace L.M., Spurgeon P.C., Tramontano C., Charalampous M. (2019). Contruction and initial validation of the E-Work Life Scale to measure remote e-working, Employee Relations, 41(1), 16-33. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-09-2017-0229
Search via ReFindit
Grant, C.A., Wallace, L.M. and Spurgeon, P.C. (2019). An exploration of the psychological factors affecting remote e-worker’s job effectiveness, well-being and work-life balance. Employee Relations, 5(35), 527-546, http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/ER-08-2012-0059
Search via ReFindit
Gruževskis, B. (2001). Užimtumo pokyčiai. Lanksčių užimtumo formų taikymo galimybių įvertinimas (Changes in employment. Assessment of the possibilities of applying flexible forms of employment). Vilnius: Justitia https://vb.lstc.lt/object/elaba:25724454/25724454.pdf
Search via ReFindit
Hunton J.E., Norman C.S. (2010). The Impact of Alternative Telework Arrangements on Organizational Commitment: Insights from a Longitudinal Field Experiment. Journal of Information Systems 24 (1): 67–90. https://doi.org/10.2308/jis.2010.24.1.67
Search via ReFindit
Kwang B.B., Dohyeong K. (2016). The Impact of Decoupling of Telework on Job Satisfaction in U.S. Federal Agencies: Does Gender Matter? The American Review of Public Administration. Vol.46 issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.1177/0275074016637183
Search via ReFindit
Kwon M., Jeon S.H. (2020). Do Leadership Commitment and Performance-Oriented Culture Matter for Federal Teleworker Satisfaction With Telework Programs? Review of Public Personnel Administration, Vol. 40(1) 36–55 https://doi.org/10.1177/0734371X18776049
Search via ReFindit
Laitinen, K., & Valo, M. (2018). Meanings of communication technology in virtual team meetings: Framing technology-related interaction. International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, 111, 12–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhcs.2017.10.012
Search via ReFindit
Leonardi P. M., Treem J. W., Jackson, M. H. (2010). The connectivity paradox: Using technology to both decrease and increase perceptions of distance in distributed work. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 38, 85–105. https://doi.org/10.1080/00909880903483599
Search via ReFindit
Mas-Machuca M., Berbegal-Mirabent J., Alegre I. (2016). Work-life balance and its relationship with organizational pride and job satisfaction. Journal of Managerial Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-09-2014-0272
Search via ReFindit
Miežienė R., Gruževskis B. (2016). Atypical Forms of Employment in Lithuania: Main Characteristics and Prevalence, Socialiniai tyrimai / Social Research. 39(1), 27–36 https://doi.org/10.21277/sc.v1i39.76
Search via ReFindit
Morganson, V.J., Major, D.A., Oborn, K.L., Verive, J.M., Heelan, M.P. (2010). Comparing telework locations and traditional work arrangements: Differences in work‐life balance support, job satisfaction, and inclusion, Journal of Managerial Psychology, 25(6), 578-95. https://doi.org/10.1108/02683941011056941
Search via ReFindit
Nakrošienė A., Butkevičienė E. (2016). Telework in Lithuania: the concept, benefits and challenges to the employees, Filosofija. Sociologija, 2027(4), 364–372. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318273903
Search via ReFindit
Suciu, P. (2020). COVID-19 and Computer Security, Part 2: Shoring Up Systems for Remote Workers. Tech News World https://www.technewsworld.com/story/86579.html
Search via ReFindit
Sullivan, C. (2003). What’s in a name? Definitions and conceptualisations of teleworking and homeworking. New Technology, Work and Employment, 18(3), 158–165. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-005X.00118
Search via ReFindit
Sumathipala, S. (2020). Trust and Psychological Safety in a Virtual Healthcare Team. World Family Medicine Journal/Middle East Journal of Family Medicine, 18(9), 53–57. https://doi.org/10.5742/mewfm.2020.93855
Search via ReFindit
Vitola A., Baltina I. (2013). An Evaluation of the Demand for Telework and Smart Work Centres in Rural Areas: A Case Study from Latvia. European Countryside, Volume 5: Issue 3. https://doi.org/10.2478/euco-2013-0016
Search via ReFindit
Vrchota J., Frantikova Z., Vlčkova M., (2019). Why Some SME’s in the Czech Republic Adopt Telework and Others Not? European Countryside, 11(4). https://doi.org/10.2478/euco-2019-0033
Search via ReFindit
RSS 1.0
