Understanding The Usage Of Whatsapp Group During COVID-19 Pandemic Among Perak State Of Public Work Department Employees​

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has yet to find a comprehensive solution. Therefore, all employment sectors, whether public or private, have significantly changed their work environment since the Movement Control Order (MCO) implementation on March 18, 2020. Thus, most organizations began to adopt alternative communication methods to carry out routine tasks with social distancing, and no longer necessary to have a face-to-face meetings. All discussions and meetings have taken place online with the employee. Since many employees Work from Home (WFH), WhatsApp groups have become a viable option for discussing work matters during the pandemic. Besides, Malaysia's public service faces a challenge in adapting to this new normal of using digital technologies as a part of communication. Thus, the study focuses on the Perak State of Public Work Department. The qualitative study will using semi-structured interview questions among Perak State of Public Work Department employees. Ten (10) informants will be selected for this study. The sampling technique is non-probability sampling. The qualitative method is chosen due to the appropriateness of the study matter as it adds depth, details, and meaning. This study employs a Social Presence Theory and Media Richness Theory. Researchers need to understand its relation to social media usage in the organisation. Implications for conducting this study will provide findings to researchers to see the use of WhatsApp groups among employees in the Public Work Department. After that, the researcher can identify weaknesses, challenges, and problems arising from WhatsApp usage during the pandemic. The findings will be able to facilitate the Public Work Department to improve a more effective medium for communication between the organization, employees, and customers.