Telework as a dynamic capability of firms: A qualitative research and narratives

Abstract

Unexpected and negative factors such as pandemics, crises, etc. have a profound effect on business environment and entail a paradigm shift in the classical concept of work schedule. The paper aims to explore the phenomenon of telework as a dynamic capability of firms to ensure business continuity in the face of all kinds of unpredictable events and delves into the factors behind telework applications that contribute to increasing the resilience of SMEs to chaotic business shifts. Dynamic capabilities theory constitutes the methodological basis of the study. For the purpose of the research, the qualitative method was used, which has a detailed and exploratory approach with inductive questions and enables a holistic picture of the phenomenon under investigation to be revealed. The multi-site case study design was preferred, and the data collected were analysed using content analysis. In July–August 2022, 13 semi-structured interviews were conducted with the owners, top and mid-level managers of SMEs operating in the service sector in Turkey. MAXQDA 2020 programme was used to analyse the data obtained. As a result of the research, the structure of the telework theme consisting of three dimensions (technological infrastructure, culture, and work attributes) and ten sub-dimensions (working order, trust, implementation history, business strategy, etc.) was discovered. For telework to be carried out healthily, firms should establish working order, work to be done, time spent by employees in front of the computer, etc., be more flexible and receptive to changes in work practices, create an appropriate culture and establish manager-employee trust.