Identifying Factors Affecting Teleworking Productivity During COVID-19 Pandemic Using Fuzzy Techniques
Subject Areas : Business ManagementAlireza Amini 1 , Reihaneh Dorri giv 2 , Maryam Ahmadi Zahrani 3
1 - Assistant Professor, School of Economics, Management & Social Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
2 - Master student of Industrial Management, Faculty of Economics, Management and Social Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
3 - Assistant Professor, School of Economics, Management & Social Sciences, yazd University,yazd, Iran
Keywords: Teleworking, Teleworking Employees’ Productivity, Best-Worst Fuzzy Technique, Fuzzy DEMATEL Technique, COVID-19 Disease,
Abstract :
Recognizing and managing the factors affecting employees’ productivity are important issues. However, the importance of these factors has not been much studied by management researchers. On the other hand, today, teleworking as one of the factors affecting the global economy is a topic that has been considered by scholars and its importance during the spread of COVID-19 has become much debatable. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to identify the factors affecting teleworking during COVID-19 pandemic. The present study consists of two parts: qualitative and quantitative. In the qualitative section, with a systematic review of the related studies, the dimensions and indicators of the employees’ productivity have been extracted in the form of a model with 7 dimensions and 21 indicators, including: physiological and psychological factors, social factors, organizational factors, technological factors and situational factors related to the work environment. Thus, using the content analysis method, a model with 7 dimensions and 21 indicators was extracted and approved by a panel of academic experts. In the quantitative part, 35 experts of Tadbirgaran Brokerage Company, using an expertly designed questionnaire, determined the weight of the factors and the relationships between them using the fuzzy best-worst method and fuzzy DEMATEL techniques The results revealed that, among the main factors, the phsilogical factors are the most important and the technological factors are the least important factors. Additionally, it was found that, among the sub-indicators, the effect of physical condition and the gender of the employees are the most important and the quality of work is the least important indicators.
Al-Saleh, H. (1995). Improving Construction Productivity in Saudi Arabia. The 4th Saudi Engineering Conference, Saudi Arabia.
Andalib, D., & Rostami, Kh. (2017). Impact on teleworking on organizational performance with structural equation modeling. Journal of Business Administration Reaserchers, 8(16): 141-159. (In Persian).
Bailyn, D., & Kurland, N. (2002). A Review of telework Research: Findings, New Directions, and Lessons for the Study of Modern Work. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 23(4), 383-400.
Bailyn, L. )1988(. Freeing Work from the Constraints of Location and Time, New Technology, Work and Employment, 1-24.
Bao, L., Tao, L., Xin, X., Kaiyu, Z., Hui, L. Xiaohu, Y. (2020). How Does Working from Home Affect Developer Productivity? – A Case Study of Baidu during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Empirical Software Engineering manuscript, 1-17.
Baruch, Y. (2000). Teleworking: benefits and pitfalls as perceived by professionals and managers, New Technology, Work and Employment, 15(1), 34-49.
Bélanger, F. (1999). Workers’ Propensity to Telecommute: An empirical study, Information & Management 35(3), 139-153.
Belzunegui, A. E., & Erro, A. G. (2020). Teleworking in the Context of the Covid-19 Crisis. Sustainability, 12(9), 1-20.
Curtis, M. (2020). (Re)Awakening to the Benefits and Climate Impacts of Telework during COVID-19. Master of Advanced Studies in Climate Science and Policy, San Diego, California, 1-42.
Chapman, N. P. Sheeney, S. Heywood, B. Dooley, S. C. Collns, S. (2007). The organizational implications of teleworking, in: Cooper, IT. Robertson (Eds.), International review of industrial and organizational psychology, London: Wiley, 10: 229-248.
Davenport, T. H. (2005). Thinking for a Living, Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business School. Press: 1-240.
De Preter, W. (2020). Grote vraag naar Telewerk Bij Werknemers. De Tijd.
Dishman, L. (2019). The-Surprising-History-of-Working-from Home. Fast Company.
Drucker, P. F. (1999). Management Challenges for the 21st Century. Oxford: Butterworth-Heineman.
Ceurstemont, S) .2020). Teleworking is here to stay – here's what it means for the future of work, Horizon – The EU Research & Innovation Magazine.
Ebadi Moghaddam, S.(2015). Effective factors of manpower in increasing productivity in the automotive industry. Master Thesis, School of Management and Accounting. Shahid Beheshti University. Tehran. (In Persian).
Eisenberger, R., Jones, J. R., Stinglhamber, F., Shanock, L., & Randall, A. T. (2005). Flow Experiences at Work: for High Need Achievers alone? Journal of Organizational Behavior, 26(7), 755-775.
Eurofound. (2020). COVID-19 could permanently change teleworking in Europe, 26/3/2020. Available at: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/news/ news-articles/COVID-19-could-permanently-changeteleworking-in-europe.
European Commission, (2020), Proposal for a Joint Employment Report from the Commission and the Council, COM. 744 final, Brussels,
Fagan, C. & Lyonette, C., & Smith, M., & Saldaña, T. (2011). The Influence of Working Time Arrangements on work-Life Integration or Balance: A Review of the International Evidence. International Labour Office-Geneva, Conditions of Work and Employment Series, 32, 1-60.
Faith Wacheke. G. (2017). Factors Affecting Productivity in Country Governments in Kenya: A Case study of The Country Government of Likipia.Business Administration of Management University of Africa,1-67
Forrester, R. (2009). US Telecommuting Forecast 2009 to 2016. Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Frolick, M. N., Wilkes, R. B., & Urwiler, R. (1993). Telecommuting as a Workplace Alternative: An Identification of Significant Factors in American firms, Determination of Work-at-home policies, The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 2(3), 206-220.
Ghavidel, M. (2020). Designing a telework productivity model for government employees in coronary conditions. Quarterly Journal of Approach in Business Management, 4, 500-521. (In Persian).
Göritz, A. S. (2006). Incentives in Web Studies: Methodological Issues and a Review. International Journal of Internet Science, 1(1), 58–70.
Graber, S. (2015). Why-Remote-Work-Thrives-in-Some-Companies-and-Fails-In others. Harvard Business Review.
Hartman, R. I., Stoner, C. R., & Arora, R. (1991). An Investigation of Selected Variables Affecting Telecommuting Productivity and Satisfaction, Journal of Business and Psychology, 6(2): 207-225.
Hartman, R. I., Stoner, C. R., & Arora, R. (1992). Developing Successful Organizational Telecommuting Arrangements: Worker Perceptions and Managerial Prescriptions. Business Source Premier, 57(3), 35-42.
Hartman, R. I., Stoner, C. R., & Arora, R., (1992), Developing Successful Organizational Telecommuting Arrangements: Worker Perceptions and Managerial Prescriptions. Business Source Premier, 57(3), 35-42.
High Speed Internet. (2018). the Digital Nomad: A Brief History of Remote Workers. November 15.
Hill, E. J., Miller, B. C., Weiner, S. P., & Colihan, J. (1998). Influences of the Virtual Office on Aspects of Work and Work/Life Balance. Personnel Psychology, 51(3):667-683.
Ibrahim Mahamid, Al-Ghonamy, A., Aichouni, M. (2014). Major Factors Influencing Employee Productivity in the KSA Public Construction Projects. International Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering, 14(1), 1-5.
Jafari, A., & Memarzade Tehran, G. (2017). Identification of Effective Factors on Employee Productivity in A Military Health Organization. Journal of Military Medical, 19 (3), 234-244. (In Persian).
James, P.)2004(. Is Teleworking Sustainable? An Analysis of its Economic, Environmental and Social Impacts, Brussels: 1-40.
Jensen, G, A.(2007). Telecommuting Productivity: A Case on Home- Office Distracters. A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Management and Organizational Leadership. University of Phoenix, 2(2), 1-11.
Kheirandish, M., & Asgari, N.(2020). Enhancing Telecommuting Productivity in Public Organizations via Identification and Ranking Human Resource Challenges. The Journal of Productivity Management, 14(1), 97-116. (In Persian).
Knutson, T.(2020). Telecommuting Surge Likely to Last Past COVID-19 Crisis, Predicts Brookings Report. Forbes.
Kraut, R. (1989). Telecommuting: The Trade-offs of Home Work. Journal of Communication, 39(3): 19-47.
Memarzadeh Tehran, Gh. R., & Abolmaali, F.(2013). Effect of Distance Working on Performance of Employees of Ministry of Cooperative, Labor & Social Welfare. Journal of Future Studies Management, 23(97), 1-10. (In Persian).
Mirzaei, H.(2011). Investigating the effective factors on improving the productivity of human resources in the Industry, Mining and Trade Organization of Tehran Province. Journal of Knowledge. (In Persian).
Neufeld, D. J., & Fang, Y.(2004). Predicting Telecommuter Productivity, Proceedings of the 37th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, 1-10.
Neufeld, D. J., & Fang, Y.(2005). Individual, Social and Situational Determinants of telecommuter productivity. Information & Management, 42(7):1037-1049.
Olson, Margreth, H. (1982). New Information Technology and Organization Culture. MIS Quarterly, 6, 71-92.
Pasini, R.(2018). Telecommuting-Job-Search help/ History-of-Telecommuting-Remote- Virtual Vocations: A History of Telecommuting.
Ruch, W.A.(1994). Measuring and Managing Individual Productivity, In Organizational Linkages. Understanding the Productivity Paradox, D. H. Harris (ed.), Washington D.C.: National Academy Press: 1-320.
Salomon, I., & Salomon, M. (1984). Telecommuting: The employee’s perspective, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 25(1):15-28.
Shamir, B., & Salomon, I. (1985). Work-at-Home and the Quality of Working Life. The Academy of Management Review, 10(3):455-464.
Shirazi, A., & Azizi, A. (2020). Ranking of performance indicators and telework productivity using TOPSIS Method, The first international conference on new challenges and solutions in industrial engineering and management and accounting. (In Persian).
Shojanoori, F., Khademi, F., & Sadatsadidpour, S. (2015). Analysis of Effects of Employed Married Women Teleworking on keeping Balance between Work and Family.Quareterly Journal of Women¢s Studies Sochialogical and Psychological, 13(3): 7-42. (In Persian).
Sias, P., & Cahill, D. (1998). From Coworkers to Friends: The Development of Peer Friendships in the Workplace. Western Journal of Communication, 62(3), 273-299.
Silva, C., Ross, M., & Farias, T. (2009). Evaluation of Energy Consumption, Emissions and Cost of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles. Energy Conversion and Management, 50(7):1635-1643.
Perez Perez, M., Martinez –Sanchez, A. and Pilar de Luis Carnicer, M. (2003). The organizational implications of human resources managers ‘perception of teleworking. Personnel Review, 32(6), 733-755.
Tan, H. (2020). There will be a ‘Massive’ Shuffling of Supply Chains Globally after Coronavirus Shutdowns. CNBC. Retrieved April 27, 2020 from https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/20/coronavirus-shocks-will-lead-to massive -globalsupply-chain-shuffle.html
Tappe, A., & Kurtz, A. (2020). The US Economy Lost 701,000 Jobs in March-Worst Report Since 2009. CNN.
Tavares, A.I. (2015). Telework and Health Effects Review, and a Research Framework Proposal; Munich Personal Re PEc. Archive Paper, University Library of Munich: Munich, Germany, 1-28.
The Center for Digital Government. (2006). Telework 360. Policy Document. Folsom: The Center for Digital Government, 1-20.
Toffler, A. (1987). The third wave. (Translation: Kharazmi, Sh.) Tehran: New. Third edition.
Vega, G.(2003). Managing teleworkers and telecommuting strategies, First published; United States of America: Praeger
_||_Al-Saleh, H. (1995). Improving Construction Productivity in Saudi Arabia. The 4th Saudi Engineering Conference, Saudi Arabia.
Andalib, D., & Rostami, Kh. (2017). Impact on teleworking on organizational performance with structural equation modeling. Journal of Business Administration Reaserchers, 8(16): 141-159. (In Persian).
Bailyn, D., & Kurland, N. (2002). A Review of telework Research: Findings, New Directions, and Lessons for the Study of Modern Work. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 23(4), 383-400.
Bailyn, L. )1988(. Freeing Work from the Constraints of Location and Time, New Technology, Work and Employment, 1-24.
Bao, L., Tao, L., Xin, X., Kaiyu, Z., Hui, L. Xiaohu, Y. (2020). How Does Working from Home Affect Developer Productivity? – A Case Study of Baidu during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Empirical Software Engineering manuscript, 1-17.
Baruch, Y. (2000). Teleworking: benefits and pitfalls as perceived by professionals and managers, New Technology, Work and Employment, 15(1), 34-49.
Bélanger, F. (1999). Workers’ Propensity to Telecommute: An empirical study, Information & Management 35(3), 139-153.
Belzunegui, A. E., & Erro, A. G. (2020). Teleworking in the Context of the Covid-19 Crisis. Sustainability, 12(9), 1-20.
Curtis, M. (2020). (Re)Awakening to the Benefits and Climate Impacts of Telework during COVID-19. Master of Advanced Studies in Climate Science and Policy, San Diego, California, 1-42.
Chapman, N. P. Sheeney, S. Heywood, B. Dooley, S. C. Collns, S. (2007). The organizational implications of teleworking, in: Cooper, IT. Robertson (Eds.), International review of industrial and organizational psychology, London: Wiley, 10: 229-248.
Davenport, T. H. (2005). Thinking for a Living, Boston, Massachusetts: Harvard Business School. Press: 1-240.
De Preter, W. (2020). Grote vraag naar Telewerk Bij Werknemers. De Tijd.
Dishman, L. (2019). The-Surprising-History-of-Working-from Home. Fast Company.
Drucker, P. F. (1999). Management Challenges for the 21st Century. Oxford: Butterworth-Heineman.
Ceurstemont, S) .2020). Teleworking is here to stay – here's what it means for the future of work, Horizon – The EU Research & Innovation Magazine.
Ebadi Moghaddam, S.(2015). Effective factors of manpower in increasing productivity in the automotive industry. Master Thesis, School of Management and Accounting. Shahid Beheshti University. Tehran. (In Persian).
Eisenberger, R., Jones, J. R., Stinglhamber, F., Shanock, L., & Randall, A. T. (2005). Flow Experiences at Work: for High Need Achievers alone? Journal of Organizational Behavior, 26(7), 755-775.
Eurofound. (2020). COVID-19 could permanently change teleworking in Europe, 26/3/2020. Available at: https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/news/ news-articles/COVID-19-could-permanently-changeteleworking-in-europe.
European Commission, (2020), Proposal for a Joint Employment Report from the Commission and the Council, COM. 744 final, Brussels,
Fagan, C. & Lyonette, C., & Smith, M., & Saldaña, T. (2011). The Influence of Working Time Arrangements on work-Life Integration or Balance: A Review of the International Evidence. International Labour Office-Geneva, Conditions of Work and Employment Series, 32, 1-60.
Faith Wacheke. G. (2017). Factors Affecting Productivity in Country Governments in Kenya: A Case study of The Country Government of Likipia.Business Administration of Management University of Africa,1-67
Forrester, R. (2009). US Telecommuting Forecast 2009 to 2016. Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Frolick, M. N., Wilkes, R. B., & Urwiler, R. (1993). Telecommuting as a Workplace Alternative: An Identification of Significant Factors in American firms, Determination of Work-at-home policies, The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 2(3), 206-220.
Ghavidel, M. (2020). Designing a telework productivity model for government employees in coronary conditions. Quarterly Journal of Approach in Business Management, 4, 500-521. (In Persian).
Göritz, A. S. (2006). Incentives in Web Studies: Methodological Issues and a Review. International Journal of Internet Science, 1(1), 58–70.
Graber, S. (2015). Why-Remote-Work-Thrives-in-Some-Companies-and-Fails-In others. Harvard Business Review.
Hartman, R. I., Stoner, C. R., & Arora, R. (1991). An Investigation of Selected Variables Affecting Telecommuting Productivity and Satisfaction, Journal of Business and Psychology, 6(2): 207-225.
Hartman, R. I., Stoner, C. R., & Arora, R. (1992). Developing Successful Organizational Telecommuting Arrangements: Worker Perceptions and Managerial Prescriptions. Business Source Premier, 57(3), 35-42.
Hartman, R. I., Stoner, C. R., & Arora, R., (1992), Developing Successful Organizational Telecommuting Arrangements: Worker Perceptions and Managerial Prescriptions. Business Source Premier, 57(3), 35-42.
High Speed Internet. (2018). the Digital Nomad: A Brief History of Remote Workers. November 15.
Hill, E. J., Miller, B. C., Weiner, S. P., & Colihan, J. (1998). Influences of the Virtual Office on Aspects of Work and Work/Life Balance. Personnel Psychology, 51(3):667-683.
Ibrahim Mahamid, Al-Ghonamy, A., Aichouni, M. (2014). Major Factors Influencing Employee Productivity in the KSA Public Construction Projects. International Journal of Civil & Environmental Engineering, 14(1), 1-5.
Jafari, A., & Memarzade Tehran, G. (2017). Identification of Effective Factors on Employee Productivity in A Military Health Organization. Journal of Military Medical, 19 (3), 234-244. (In Persian).
James, P.)2004(. Is Teleworking Sustainable? An Analysis of its Economic, Environmental and Social Impacts, Brussels: 1-40.
Jensen, G, A.(2007). Telecommuting Productivity: A Case on Home- Office Distracters. A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Management and Organizational Leadership. University of Phoenix, 2(2), 1-11.
Kheirandish, M., & Asgari, N.(2020). Enhancing Telecommuting Productivity in Public Organizations via Identification and Ranking Human Resource Challenges. The Journal of Productivity Management, 14(1), 97-116. (In Persian).
Knutson, T.(2020). Telecommuting Surge Likely to Last Past COVID-19 Crisis, Predicts Brookings Report. Forbes.
Kraut, R. (1989). Telecommuting: The Trade-offs of Home Work. Journal of Communication, 39(3): 19-47.
Memarzadeh Tehran, Gh. R., & Abolmaali, F.(2013). Effect of Distance Working on Performance of Employees of Ministry of Cooperative, Labor & Social Welfare. Journal of Future Studies Management, 23(97), 1-10. (In Persian).
Mirzaei, H.(2011). Investigating the effective factors on improving the productivity of human resources in the Industry, Mining and Trade Organization of Tehran Province. Journal of Knowledge. (In Persian).
Neufeld, D. J., & Fang, Y.(2004). Predicting Telecommuter Productivity, Proceedings of the 37th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, 1-10.
Neufeld, D. J., & Fang, Y.(2005). Individual, Social and Situational Determinants of telecommuter productivity. Information & Management, 42(7):1037-1049.
Olson, Margreth, H. (1982). New Information Technology and Organization Culture. MIS Quarterly, 6, 71-92.
Pasini, R.(2018). Telecommuting-Job-Search help/ History-of-Telecommuting-Remote- Virtual Vocations: A History of Telecommuting.
Ruch, W.A.(1994). Measuring and Managing Individual Productivity, In Organizational Linkages. Understanding the Productivity Paradox, D. H. Harris (ed.), Washington D.C.: National Academy Press: 1-320.
Salomon, I., & Salomon, M. (1984). Telecommuting: The employee’s perspective, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 25(1):15-28.
Shamir, B., & Salomon, I. (1985). Work-at-Home and the Quality of Working Life. The Academy of Management Review, 10(3):455-464.
Shirazi, A., & Azizi, A. (2020). Ranking of performance indicators and telework productivity using TOPSIS Method, The first international conference on new challenges and solutions in industrial engineering and management and accounting. (In Persian).
Shojanoori, F., Khademi, F., & Sadatsadidpour, S. (2015). Analysis of Effects of Employed Married Women Teleworking on keeping Balance between Work and Family.Quareterly Journal of Women¢s Studies Sochialogical and Psychological, 13(3): 7-42. (In Persian).
Sias, P., & Cahill, D. (1998). From Coworkers to Friends: The Development of Peer Friendships in the Workplace. Western Journal of Communication, 62(3), 273-299.
Silva, C., Ross, M., & Farias, T. (2009). Evaluation of Energy Consumption, Emissions and Cost of Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles. Energy Conversion and Management, 50(7):1635-1643.
Perez Perez, M., Martinez –Sanchez, A. and Pilar de Luis Carnicer, M. (2003). The organizational implications of human resources managers ‘perception of teleworking. Personnel Review, 32(6), 733-755.
Tan, H. (2020). There will be a ‘Massive’ Shuffling of Supply Chains Globally after Coronavirus Shutdowns. CNBC. Retrieved April 27, 2020 from https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/20/coronavirus-shocks-will-lead-to massive -globalsupply-chain-shuffle.html
Tappe, A., & Kurtz, A. (2020). The US Economy Lost 701,000 Jobs in March-Worst Report Since 2009. CNN.
Tavares, A.I. (2015). Telework and Health Effects Review, and a Research Framework Proposal; Munich Personal Re PEc. Archive Paper, University Library of Munich: Munich, Germany, 1-28.
The Center for Digital Government. (2006). Telework 360. Policy Document. Folsom: The Center for Digital Government, 1-20.
Toffler, A. (1987). The third wave. (Translation: Kharazmi, Sh.) Tehran: New. Third edition.
Vega, G.(2003). Managing teleworkers and telecommuting strategies, First published; United States of America: Praeger