Covid-19: How did international businesses adapt to remote work?: A qualitative study on international businesses managerial and organizational adaptations to the remote work environment caused by Covid-19.
2022 (English) Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
The global outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic forced social distancing upon societies and businesses all across the world. As organizations abruptly redirected employees to work remotely from their own homes, the new norm of remote work environment was born. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the managerial and organizational actions taken by international businesses in order to adapt to the mandatory remote work setting cause by the Covid-19 pandemic. Contemporary research revolving Covid-19 with its financial and logistical effects on international business is well documented. However, little is known about the specific managerial and organizational changes international businesses made in order to adapt to the new situation. It is the aim of this thesis to fill this research gap.A literature review has been produced, in large based on organizational and managerial theory. Additionally, there are concepts regarding digitalization and international supply chain management. The literature review was summarized through a conceptual framework, illustrating how it is later applied in the analysis of the empirical findings. The empirical data has been gathered by conducting qualitative research, collecting data based on the experiences of managers in international business organizations. The findings were summarized and presented in a summarization matrix before being further compared, analysed and connected to the literature review. Ultimately, the thesis was concluded by answering the research questions, discussing theoretical, managerial and policy implications. Lastly described are the limitations of this study, as well as suggestions for future research.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages 2022. , p. 70
Keywords [en]
Covid-19, Digitalization, Remote Workforce, International Businesses, International Organization, Management, Remote Working, IoT, Pandemic
National Category
Economics and Business
Identifiers URN: urn:nbn:se:lnu:diva-114432 OAI: oai:DiVA.org:lnu-114432 DiVA, id: diva2:1672365
Subject / course Business Administration - Other
Educational program International Business Programme, 180 credits
Supervisors
Examiners
2022-07-132022-06-192022-07-13 Bibliographically approved