Rethinking the Unthinkable
A Delphi Study on Remote Work during Covid-19 Pandemic
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5936401 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Teresa Galanti (0000-0003-1926-4877, University of Chieti-Pescara, corresponding author), Bruna Ferrara (0000-0002-7438-8840, Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta), Paula Benevene (0000-0002-7899-723X, Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta), Ilaria Buonomo (0000-0001-8212-6798, Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta) |
| Year | 2023 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 9 |
| Pages | 497 |
| Publication date | 2023-09-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Social Sciences (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2076-0760 • E-ISSN: 2076-0760 |
| Publisher | MDPI AG (PUBLISHER • IT) |
| DOI | 10.3390/socsci12090497 |
| OpenAlex | W4386417628 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 53 |
Background: The outbreak of COVID-19 pushed organizations towards the adoption of new ways of organizing the workplace, to contrast the diffusion of the virus as well as to ensure the production of goods and services. Many workers and employers were suddenly forced to switch to forms of remote work, quite often without any real preparation to successfully deal with these changes. This exploratory study aimed to investigate the point of view of Italian HR managers on the introduction of these new ways of working in Italian SMEs, to underline both the advantages and risks of remote work and to provide a shared list of best and worst practices related to remote work adoption. A Panel of 19 Italian experts of HR management was recruited in April 2022 to perform a Delphi study. They were asked to take part in an anonymous and asynchronous discussion started with stimulus questions, on their remote working experience during the pandemic. A mixed-methods approach was adopted for data collection and analysis. Results: Five principal themes emerged, related to both the positive and negative implications of the adoption of hybrid and remote work, namely: work-life balance, environmental sustainability, impact of working life on individual wellbeing and health, and technological improvement. The content analysis was realized with the use of the T-Lab software, stressing the risks of inaccurate planning and management of these new ways of work. Conclusions: This is the first application of a Delphi study in the Italian context on the impact of COVID-19 on work-life transformative processes. The results highlight the importance of clear communication, transparency, trust, and technology in successfully implementing remote and hybrid forms of work. By implementing these best practices, organizations can create a work environment that supports remote and hybrid work, fosters collaboration, and maintains productivity. The findings of this study can serve as a useful guide for organizations that are transitioning to remote or hybrid work models
Business · Context (archaeology · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Delphi · Delphi method · Knowledge management · Pandemic · Personal protective equipment · Political science · Public relations · Sustainability · Work (physics · Computer Science · Engineering · Medicine · Technostress in Professional Settings · Work-Family Balance Challenges
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Wellbeing Costs of Technology Use during Covid-19 Remote Working
Using and Reporting the Delphi Method for Selecting Healthcare Quality Indicators
The good, the bad, and the unknown about telecommuting
Supporting the productivity and wellbeing of remote workers
Does Working from Home Work? Evidence from a Chinese Experiment
Not All Remote Workers Are Similar
Work as a recovery factor after earthquake
Leading and Working From Home in Times of Covid-19
Applying the Delphi technique in a study of GPs’ information requirements
Triangulating Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches for the Analysis of Textual Materials
Self‐leadership in the context of part‐time teleworking
Is a Good Boss Always a Plus? LMX, Family-Work Conflict, and Remote Working Satisfaction during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Gender, Parenting, and The Rise of Remote Work During the Pandemic
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 1 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |