Advantages and disadvantages of remote work in six areas of project management depending on the frequency of remote work
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Abstract
Purpose: The aim of the article is to identify the advantages and disadvantages of remote work in six areas of project management depending on the frequency of remote work. The study is of theoretical and empirical nature. The theoretical part presents the factors influencing remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Its empirical part presents the employees’ opinions on the impact of working remotely (online) during the COVID-19 pandemic on working in project teams.
Methodology: Literature review and critical analysis of web research. A study was conducted on a group of 82 respondents working remotely on projects, members of the Project Management Institute Poland Chapter (PMI PC). Six areas of project management were analysed, including: working time, communication, labour costs, work environment, risk of computer malfunction and conditions for teamwork. The data obtained through questionnaire surveys was analysed using a statistical package. Factor analysis was used for statistical analyses. To extract the factors, the principal components method was adopted, and the VARIMAX procedure was used as the rotation method. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed.
Findings: Project team employees discover a number of positive and negative effects of working remotely. The positive ones include: the possibility of adapting work to private life, greater punctuality of performed tasks, saving time and money as it is not necessary to travel to work, increased satisfaction with the effects of work and a sense of security against contracting the virus due to the lack of contact with other employees. The negative ones include: limited direct contact with other employees, no traditional conversations over coffee for discussions and conversations with colleagues, limited access to company resources, no financial support from the employer, increased costs of office work at home, susceptibility to cyber-attacks, increased stress due to problems with remote cooperation with other employees and weakening interpersonal relations.
Implications: The study provides new evidence on the most salient risks and challenges faced by remote workers in project teams. They demonstrate different factors affecting remote work depending on the frequency it is performed.
Originality/Value: The research results fill the research gap and broaden the knowledge about the impact of various factors on the remote work of project team employees during a pandemic. They constitute practical recommendations and are a source of knowledge for managers of various levels and employees working remotely.
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