Investigating the relationship between teleworking and the knowledge management process during the Covid-19 outbreak

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Industrial and Information Management, Management and Accounting Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Industrial and Information Management, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Since the global COVID-19 outbreak and complete lockdown, teleworking seems the best option for organizations to sustain their business and get over this situation. Knowledge management is an important activity that helps organizations attain an excellent advantage, succeed in business, and improve performance. Teleworking and lack of face-to-face conversation and communication, a critical factor in knowledge management, can influence the knowledge management process. In the present study, we intend to better understand the relationship between teleworking and the knowledge management process. A deductive approach and positivist philosophy are utilized to achieve the study’s primary purpose. A quantitative approach is applied because this study refers to a causal relationship among variables. The statistical population is chosen to be the employees of the Government Trading Corporation of Iran who, due to the role of this company in supplying the basic commodities of the country, were teleworking during the quarantine period. The required sample size is estimated to be 246 people using G*POWER software. After confirming the validity and reliability of the questionnaire using confirmatory factor analysis, the average variance extracted (AVE), the composite reliability (CR), rho_A, and Cronbach's alpha, 295 samples are collected, which is more than the minimum required sample size. The collected data is analyzed by smart-pls software and the structural equation modeling method. Findings show that there is a significant direct relationship between teleworking and the knowledge management process. Only the components related to maintaining the balance between work and life and willingness to continue teleworking when the crisis is over, are lower than other components which are addressed in the practical recommendation. This model is designed to help the decision-makers and managers improve management skills and increase the performance of the knowledge management process while using teleworking during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Keywords

References

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Strategic Management of Organizational Knowledge
Volume 4, Issue 3 - Serial Number 14
September 2021
Pages 23-62

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  • Receive Date: 13 October 2021
  • Revise Date: 08 December 2021
  • Accept Date: 01 January 2022

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