The New Normal, The New Research: (Re-)Theorizing the Phenomenon of Remote Working

2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K01662
• Research Institution: Nagoya University of Commerce & Business
• Principal Investigator: Law Kuok・Kei 名古屋商科大学, 経営学部, 准教授 (50898468)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 高 永才 青山学院大学, 総合文化政策学部, 准教授 (40508561)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: work from home / knowledge transfer / talent / Hong Kong / Japan / South Korea / qualitative / interview

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Our study unfolded a longer-term impact of WFH during COVID-19 on business management. By interviewing with 29 employees undergoing/managing WFH in Hong Kong, Japan and Korea, we found immediate problems concerning the lack of knowledge transfer and socialization among people in all three locations. Also, employees might tend not to consult their colleagues when problems occured.
These together lead to the longer-term problem of people lacking opportunities to learn about the knowledge and practices of a particular trade and about a specific organization, resuling in talent shortage and knowledge imbalance in the labor market when businesses resume normal after the pandemic.
A manuscript was submitted in early 2022 to Journal of Knowledge Management for consideration of publication.

Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

We went through the first phase of qualitative study as planned. However, in our initial design, we set the number of interviewees to be 20 in each location (Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea). Currenlty, we have achieved 14, 8, and 7 interviews respectively in the three locations. Yet, this does not affect the outcome of the qualitative study and the overall project progress much as theoretical situation instead of quantitative representation is sought for in the qualitative study. Nevertheless, while building a framework for quantitative tests, we will try to line up more interviews

Strategy for Future Research Activity

We will develop a framework for quantitative testing and some pilot testing of the framework before Septebmer 2022. Then, we will employ research service companies to conduct electronic surveys for us in Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea. The survey data collection is expected to be completed before the end of year 2022 and findings will be generated in early 2023. Journal paper(s) will be prepared for submission in mid- to late-2023.

Causes of Carryover

Due to the influence of COVID-19, the travel expenses for interviews and conference presenations were not used and may not be used in the coming years. Instead, they will be spent on employing research service companies to help us line up with interviews and administering electronic surveys in Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea.