Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the challenges, learning experiences, and effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in a social, healthcare, and special education development project financed by the European Social Fund. The theoretical framework of the project relied on the theories of dialogic development and leadership. The method was participatory action research using data collected from various assessments and a questionnaire. Reports of neutral, negative, and positive experiences among two participant groups of the project—the implementers and pilot organizations—in remote work, devices and applications, and remote and technology-based development processes, were recorded. Both participant groups reported increased pressure at work, social isolation, professional loneliness, and improved work control and efficiency. The pilots have learned the development method, and development has been able to continue by utilizing technology despite the pandemic. Development through technology was more difficult, and new dialogic interaction tools have been created. The project was most effective with regard to leadership, teams, renewal, and information flow. There is a need for wide-ranging dialogues with various working life actors when outlining the ways in which future work will be carried out and to reflect on how remote work, technology, and digitalization affect well-being at work, social relations, and leadership.
Highlights
Workplaces all over the world have had to adjust to new ways of working in contexts in which new technology, devices, and applications play an important role
There is a need for wide-ranging dialogues with various working life actors when outlining the ways in which future work will be carried out and to reflect on how remote work, technology, and digitalization affect well-being at work, social relations, and leadership
Particular interest was methodological: Is it possible to apply a Scandinavian dialogic and collaborative development model remotely and through technology? We were interested in the kind of learning that took place, the positive and negative experiences, and the challenges encountered in the dialogic development participatory action research among different parties
Summary
Workplaces all over the world have had to adjust to new ways of working in contexts in which new technology, devices, and applications play an important role. De’ et al [1] studied and presented possible scenarios for the digital surge and the accompanying problems. Digitalization is leading organizations to work from home. Remote work raises important issues, such as work allocation, collaboration, motivation, leadership, work overload, pressure at work, and presenteeism. Well-being at work might be negatively affected by issues related to increased technostress. Miele and Tirabeni [2] studied how employees use and incorporate digital technologies into their daily lives from the point of power and control
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