Examination of the Decision to Work Remotely During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period in Terms of Corporate Legitimacy and Corporate Logic: Analysis of CEO Opinions

Abstract

Although it has been applied in sectors such as marketing, telecommunications, and software for many years, the COVID-19 pandemic has temporarily caused many businesses to switch to remote working. Discussions about whether the remote working method is efficient or not continue. Another discussion is about whether the remote working method will be permanent. In this context, it is important to reveal which institutional logic and legitimacy expectations the companies have decided to work remotely. This study aims to deal with the background of remote working decisions of enterprises on the basis of institutional logic and legitimacy in line with the opinions of business CEOs. A qualitative research design was used in the research. Businesses included in the 2021 Forbes 2000 list were accepted as the research sample. The research data were obtained from the statements of CEOs to the press and from the reports of businesses. As a result of the analysis of the data, it has been revealed that the community and market logics are effective in the remote working decisions of CEOs. On the other hand, it was concluded that CEOs decided to work remotely with the expectation of moral and pragmatic legitimacy. This study is considered a guide for business managers who want to switch to remote working in the future. Keywords: Remote work, Institutional theory, Institutional logic, Legitimacy, COVID-19.