New Ways Of Working Research Articles

Primary care practice and cancer suspicion during the first three COVID-19 lockdowns in the UK: a qualitative study.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected UK primary care, and as a result the route to cancer diagnosis for many patients.AimTo explore how the pandemic affected primary care practice, in particular cancer suspicion, referral, and diagnosis, and how this experience evolved as the pandemic progressed.Design and settingSeventeen qualitative interviews were carried out remotely with primary care staff.MethodStaff from practices in England that expressed an interest in trialling an electronic safety-netting tool were invited to participate. Remote, semi-structured interviews were conducted from September 2020 to March 2021. Data analysis followed a thematic analysis and mind-mapping approach.ResultsThe first lockdown was described as providing time to make adjustments to allow remote and minimal-contact consultations but caused concerns over undetected cancers. These concerns were realised in summer and autumn 2020 as the participants began to see higher rates of late-stage cancer presentation. During the second and third lockdowns patients seemed more willing to consult. This combined with usual winter pressures, demands of the vaccine programme, and surging levels of COVID-19 meant that the third lockdown was the most difficult. New ways of working were seen as positive when they streamlined services but also unsafe if they prevented GPs from accessing all relevant information and resulted in delayed cancer diagnoses.ConclusionThe post-pandemic recovery of cancer care is dependent on the recovery of primary care. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated vulnerabilities in primary care but has also provided new ways of working that may help the recovery.

A Teaching Model to Raise Awareness of Sustainability Using Geoinformation

The increase in geoinformation and its integrated use in cloud-based geographic information systems, or Web GIS, facilitates visualization of data and helps to improve our understanding of socio-economic factors as well as the natural landscape. Effective application of these tools in the classroom requires a change in teachers’ pedagogies. Thus, a review of existing pedagogies and a brief questionnaire given to teachers with lots of experience of using Web GIS, was carried out in order to identify how they were integrating online interactive maps into their teaching to make learning more effective. The results led to the development of a series of learning scenarios, or vignettes. These all use the visualization provided by online maps, to encourage more critical and reasoned learning. They also contribute to educating for sustainability, as they highlight trends and interrelationships that are intended to promote transformative action, beyond the theoretical knowledge and application of the Sustainable Development Goals. Direct observation in teacher training classrooms and detailed discussion over each result obtained has validated a teaching model. To support the use of these materials and the application of the model, a training course has been designed for teachers who are new to the profession or those who are interested in integrating these tools into their teaching. To date, trainee teachers who have been introduced to the model have expressed their satisfaction with this new way of working in secondary classrooms.

Thankful employees: The manifestation of gratitude at work during a pandemic in South Africa.

Gratitude or the appreciation of being given something of value, is an important element in positive emotions within positive psychology. Gratitude has been linked to wellbeing and gratitude in the workplace is positively associated with constructs such as performance and organizational citizenship behavior. The pandemic brought on many negative experiences but employees could still find things to be grateful for during this time. The purpose of the study was to understand what aspects of work and the organization employees were grateful for during the pandemic. A generic qualitative approach was used. Participants were sourced from various industries in South Africa using purposive sampling. Data were gathered through 21 semi-structured interviews of working people in South Africa. Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis revealed five themes, namely, (1) gratitude for no negative work-life changes; (2) gratitude for a caring workplace; (3) gratitude for a new way of working; (4) gratitude for the ability to put oneself first; and (5) gratitude for having resilience, optimism and spirituality as a psychological buffer. Managers should deliberately engage in behaviors that will bring about gratitude from their employees. Employees should reflect on the positive things at work that they are thankful for as a way of enhancing gratitude and thereby, wellness, performance, and commitment. The study combines existing knowledge on gratitude during the pandemic with gratitude in the workplace.

New Ways of Working and Employee In-Role Performance in Swiss Public Administration

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, public organizations are tempted to introduce to practices that allow employees to work independently of time and space. However, little is known about the impact of such practices on employees’ outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between New Ways of Working (NWW) and in-role performance, while also considering the role that outcome-oriented culture plays in this relationship. Hierarchical regression models are used to analyze a sample of 1204 public employees at the cantonal level in Switzerland. Our findings support the hypothesized positive relationships between two NWW practices (flexibility in time and location and access to organizational knowledge). However, the moderating role of an outcome-oriented culture is only partially supported. Our study emphasizes the significance of having an organizational culture that is aligned with practices such as NWW to improve job performance.

Telecommuting is the new way of work

Pandemic has created the new way of doing work which is now called the new normal. Earlier, the physical presence was mandatory all over the world for work. People used to travel for hours for work. Managing personal life and professional life was always a challenge. But now, the only positive side of this pandemic is the new way of doing work online. Remote working is the new normal and we are calling it Telecommuting. The process of transformation of business has increased its pace further during the last few months amidst the limited availability of resources and supply chain to manage the businesses. Business on all scales has tried to come up with a digital transformation helping their overall status and survival probability. This research would focus on the current business scenario, in the post COVID period. The work would highlight the transformation in businesses across the industries to cope up with the remote working style. The work would emphasise on the integration of online medium in the existing businesses for the long term growth and prosperity in the pandemic times. The article would analyse the Telecommuting in business in post corona period.

Telecommuting is the new way of work

Telecommuting is the new way of work

The rhetorics of ‘agile’ and the practices of ‘agile working’: Consequences for the worker experience and uncertain implications for HR practice

The various rhetorics of ‘agile’, ‘agility’, and ‘agile working’ (AW) set an agenda for new ways of working and have recently gained traction in popular management discourse, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet conceptually, these rhetorical varieties of ‘agile’ are underdeveloped in the academic literature. In this article we examine the stream of AW as being a particularly influential rhetoric. AW is critically evaluated by first identifying separate streams and rhetorics of ‘agile’ in the literature, and AW is then situated within this typology. To understand the particular version of reality being mainstreamed by the AW rhetoric, we then examine AWs conceptualisation as ‘a new way of working’, as promoted by dominant actors within the UK work context. We then consider existing studies of worker experiences under different employment arrangements that can be subsumed under the heading of ‘AW practices’. Our analysis highlights voids between what may be considered as mainstream HR practice when applied to standard employees compared to a spectrum of ‘non-standard’ workers. The implications for the role of HR in the implementation of AW and in managing the worker experience are discussed and future avenues for this under-researched area are offered.

Elite sport hubs during COVID-19: The job demands and resources that exist for athletes.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, elite sport leagues implemented hubs, or 'bubbles', which restricted athletes' movements and social interactions in order to minimise the risk of athlete infection and allow competitions to continue. This was a new way of working and living for elite athletes and there was a dearth of literature on this topic. The main objective of the study was to investigate the impacts of the hub model on athletes over time, and what job demands and resources existed for athletes through the application of Demerouti et al. (2001) Job Demands-Resources Model. Multiple sequential semi-structured interviews were conducted with Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) athletes during the 2020 season, which was held entirely in a hub in North Queensland, Australia. The key job demands in an elite sport hub identified were the volume of work, simultaneous overload and underload, and nature of work in the hub. The key resources that emerged include recovery services, control and player agency, and constructive social relations. Despite the presence of job resources, which work to counteract, or buffer job demands in order to reduce work stress and improve motivation, they were found to be insufficient for athletes and inequitably distributed between clubs. The intensity of the hub model also amplified demands present in all WNBL seasons. This research is therefore useful for planning of future elite sport leagues to improve the type and amount of resources available to athletes, thereby improving athlete wellbeing and performance both within and outside a hub model.

Do Different Levels of Management Impact Employee Intrapreneurial Behavior Independently? A Multi-Mediation Analysis

Emerging trends and economic growth have given managers possibilities while posing challenges to conventional management practices. Managers must develop innovative approaches to coping with these difficulties. They may be able to overcome new obstacles and foster a creative workplace where workers are inspired to come up with fresh ideas with the aid of these new ways of working. Thus, enabling intrapreneurial conduct. This study looks at the characteristics that new ways of working create to drive employees to engage in intrapreneurial conduct, as mediated through social interaction and transformational leadership. Collecting a sample of 300 respondents from the informational technology industry, this study tested a multi-mediation model using PLS-SEM. The study concluded that combined social interaction and transformational leadership partially mediates the relation between new ways of working and employee intrapreneurial behavior. The study also focused on the moderating role of each management level and found that middle-level management foster employee intrapreneurial behavior stronger than first and top level. This study further paves the way for practitioners and researchers by presenting implications and providing future directions.

The Emerging Workcation Trend in Indonesia: A Preliminary Study on the Demographic Profiles, Motivations, and Experiences of Workcationers

This study investigates the trends of workcation in Indonesia, and the motivations and expectations of workcationers. Workcation is a new way of working that has gained momentum globally, including in Indonesia, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, research on the workcation trend involving Indonesian workers is limited, if not non-existent. Thus, this study aims to identify the profiles of those who adopt this work style, their motivation, preferences, and experiences. The data in this paper were drawn from an online survey and interviews with workcationers. We use a mixed method and adopt the New Ways of Working (NWW) approach to the sociology of work to provide new insights into the emerging workcation trend in the digital age. The findings show that Indonesian workers who adopt this work style are mostly millennials employed in the formal sectors and earn above the regional minimum wage. They believe that workcation can improve well-being and productivity. However, this trend has drawbacks for workers, such as alienation due to a low sense of belonging, depression, and work-life imbalance. Based on these findings, we propose some relevant social policy responses.

Approaching systems change at Fulfilling Lives South East in efforts to improve unsupported temporary accommodation: a qualitative case study

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to consider how a South East project approached systems change to improve unsupported temporary accommodation (UTA) and the changes made for people experiencing multiple disadvantage (“multiple and complex needs”). This paper also covers some matters that are hard to change or uncertain, such as housing shortages and financial constraints. The paper focuses on a case study of the East Sussex Temporary Accommodation Action Group (TAAG) – a multi-agency action group. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative case study involving a thematic analysis of seven semi-structured interviews, with a review of published literature and internal documentation. Findings This example of setting up a TAAG shows us the value of having a dedicated forum to look at a part of the system that requires changing and to identify what works well. Creating a collaborative and democratic space with a common purpose brings different stakeholders and perspectives together and opens discussions to new ways of working. Equalising partners creates an opportunity to create change from the bottom-up within a system traditionally governed by statutory bodies. This study found that the TAAG has facilitated learning around trauma-informed practice and nurtured more sustainable changes towards a Standards Charter and women-only safe UTA. Originality/value This is one of the first qualitative case studies of a local systems change approach to improving UTA for people experiencing multiple disadvantage in East Sussex.

A predictive structural model of new ways of working on innovative work behaviour: Higher education perspective in the Gulf Cooperation Council

This study examined the relationship between compulsory new ways of working (flexible work design, workplace design at home, advanced information and communication technology [ICT]‐based communications and culture of innovation) and faculty members' innovative work behaviour. The mediating role of work–life balance and employees' satisfaction with new ways of working in the relationship between new ways of working and innovative work behaviour was also examined. Building on established measurement scales, a questionnaire‐based deductive approach was used to collect data. In total, 457 faculty members were randomly selected from universities in countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council. New ways of work and innovative work behaviour were confirmed as multidimensional concepts. The study participants were clustered in three profiles according to their level of perception of the research variables. New ways of working practices apart from advanced ITC‐based communications were significantly positively related to innovative work behaviour, and work–life balance was significantly positively related to satisfaction. Satisfaction with new ways of working and work–life balance is a vital mechanism of innovative work behaviour, and satisfaction mediates work–life balance and innovative work behaviour. Our research theoretically extends understanding of the compulsory new ways of working and innovative work behaviour in higher education institutions. It provides insights into how new ways of working affect innovative behaviour via two mediating mechanisms: work–life balance and satisfaction. This contingent perspective has not yet been explored in prior studies. Educational policy and decision makers can benefit from the results of this study by reorganizing their work activities according to faculty members' need to foster innovative educational solutions.

A qualitative study exploring the experiences of multi-disciplinary staffs in a medium secure service when working from home and virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic

PurposeLittle is known about the personal and professional experiences of staff when working virtually and from home during the COVID-19 pandemic in a medium secure environment. This study aims to overcome this issue.Design/methodology/approachThe current study used a qualitative design to specifically explore the following areas with nine multi-disciplinary staff using a semi-structured group discussion: how their everyday working practice had changed during the pandemic, the perceived impact of these changes on themselves as professionals, as well as identifying strengths and limitations associated with any new ways of working.FindingsA thematic analysis was conducted producing four main themes: emotional overload and confusion; technological problems; accessibility and emotional connectivity; adapting and making good. Data suggested that staff could experience feelings of guilt, loneliness and a sense of under-performing when working from home and virtually. Problems with technology in terms of resources and connectivity were also evident although unexpected advantages of virtual consultations included supporting gatekeeping and admissions assessments, allowing external stakeholders to better attend inpatient care and treatment planning meetings alongside improved family relations for patients.Research limitations/implicationsWhile this study has added to the existing knowledge base, it does have limitations that should be acknowledged when reading and drawing conclusions from the paper. First, a small sample was used and so the findings likely have poor generalizability outside of secure settings. Second, the small sample could mean that the current findings may not be representative of the views and experiences of the wider staff group employed within the service. Finally, the lead researcher who subsequently analyzed the data was employed within the service and may well have imposed their own biases on the data; however, this was potentially overcome by having a second rater review the emerging themes.Practical implicationsThe COVID-19 pandemic brought with it radical and innovative ways of working, and it is now important to consider lessons learned to further develop and support such new ways of working: one important area for further consideration is improved oversight of the psychological impact of home working on health-care professionals. It is, therefore, recommended that worker well-being be explored more regularly by line managers and clinical supervisors and sufficient safeguards introduced to reduce or remove any adversity identified. Of note, these safeguards/strategies should be both psychological and practical in nature. If elements of virtual working are set to continue post-pandemic, for example in the case of long distance admission assessments and/or to support external stakeholders attending patient meetings, then time and effort needs to be spent on improving access to resources, connectivity and the advancing of available technological equipment to support this working practice. This could be achieved via improved information technology relations to support technical troubleshooting and to provide much needed ongoing support. Enhanced training for staff in IT skills to better use equipment and approved platforms is also recommended. The acknowledged gains that emerged as a result of patients having access to iPads and tablets during the COVID-19 pandemic now needs to be extended and explored further to consider all of the other significant contributions greater access to these technologies could afford to patients’ recovery post-pandemic in secure environments.Originality/valueThe experiences of staff working virtually, and from home, through a pandemic in secure services are relatively unknown. This paper, therefore, aims to contribute to the limited evidence base.

Investigating the use of Appreciative Inquiry as a process for coach development within a National Governing Body talent development programme

ABSTRACT Coach development continues to be positioned as a ‘problem to be solved’ for national governing bodies (NGBs) with policy makers persisting in their quest to find an effective solution to bring about sustained change. Here, we suggest that coach development should instead consider a strength-based approach to change in an effort to build on current practice. This study, conducted ‘in-situ’ by the Head of Performance, focused on coach development within a NGB field hockey talent development programme. In a shift from the traditional ‘top down’, cut and paste approach to change interventions synonymous with coach development, this study adopted an appreciative inquiry (AI) approach that focuses on strengths and collaboration within groups and has been found to assist in the identification of new ways of working. The results showed that by adopting an AI framework to coach development, the themes of positivity and collaboration leading to generativity were integral to coach development within a NGB talent development programme. Positivity was clearly a highlight in this context as findings indicate that coaches were highly motivated to interrogate new ideas through a positive mindset. Similarly, results show that the collaborative approach to change and personal learning ensured a sustained movement towards the collective vision for the programme. Interestingly, results also show the theme of complexity when adopting an AI approach to coach learning and the need to maintain an element of flexibility that does not follow a ‘clean’ approach to AI that is often reported within the literature. Lastly, the importance of facilitation from the researcher was highlighted within the inquiry and sheds new light into the complexity of coach learning in a collaborative setting. This investigation highlights the potential of strengths-based inquiry in relation to coach development and provides a rich insight into context specific personal development within coaching.

TIC in postgraduate studies: narratives from teachers about the challenge of performing remote classes

The article deals with the use of Communication and Information Technologies by graduate professors of a public higher education institution in the state of Bahia. The study aimed to understand how postgraduate professors experienced the challenges of developing remote activities. The research was based on qualitative research, as it excelled in revealing the meanings found in the information, enabling interpretive paths to understand and explore the challenges that postgraduate professors faced to make use of ICT in remote classes. As a device for collecting information, narratives were used, which make it possible to know experiences that teachers produce in a certain context of professional activity. In general, the study made it possible to conclude that teachers have an instrumental skill. In the research, it was possible to identify challenges faced by teachers in remote classes, and how teachers moved to experience new ways of working and new channels of communication.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind? A Longitudinal Investigation of Smart Working and Burnout in the Context of the Job Demands–Resources Model during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The academic interest in smart working, a form of flexible work characterized by the use of technology to conduct one’s work, has dramatically increased over recent years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on the job demands–resources (JD-R) model, in this study we investigate whether smart working affects the longitudinal association between perceived work characteristics, such as workload and social support (SS), and workers’ health and well-being, in terms of exhaustion. Overall, 185 workers completed a self-report questionnaire at two time points (four-month time-lag) during the COVID-19 outbreak. The results from moderated multiple regression analysis partially support our predictions. The longitudinal association between workload and exhaustion was positive—although marginally significant—for smart workers, but nonsignificant for in-person workers. Contrarily, the longitudinal association between SS and exhaustion was negative for in-person workers, but nonsignificant for smart workers. Overall, this study suggests that, to support employees’ health and productivity, work characteristics—both physical and psychosocial—should fit the new way of working as well as remote workers’ specific needs and expectations. Hence, to promote sustainable work, interventions should be aimed at helping smart workers to manage their workload effectively, as well as reducing professional and social isolation.

Artists, government and cross-sector collaboration: A guiding framework of US-based artists in residence in government programs

ABSTRACT Artist in residence in government (AIRG) programs that embed artists within civic work are becoming increasingly popular across the United States. As governments are challenged to shift systems to be more equitable, repair infrastructure and prepare for future crises, cross-sectoral collaboration models offer new ways of working. Cross-sectoral collaboration that embeds artists in non-arts sectors spurs civic innovation and shifts contexts to inspire new ideas and opportunities. This article builds a guiding framework of the characteristics and considerations that shape AIRG programs in order to present possible pathways that can be followed in program development and implementation. Foundationally, each AIRG is unique and responsive to the specific underlying social, political, economic, environmental and cultural preconditions of place. The guiding framework details preconditions, program design and partners, and program structure, followed by an analysis of the challenges and opportunities. Research was conducted on AIRG programs operating in 2020 and 2021.

Effects of abnormally shaped fruits and vegetables on consumer’s willingness to buy: a meta-analytic study

PurposeThe purpose of this meta-analytic study is to investigate the possible influence of food shape abnormality on consumer’s willingness to buy fruits and vegetables. This research also investigates some possible moderators (methodological, cultural, socio-economic and contextual) that could influence the direct effects.Design/methodology/approachThis study applied the meta-analysis approach to understand the effect of food shape abnormality on willingness to buy fruits and vegetables. In this research, 16 empirical articles were examined, with a total of 54 effect sizes.FindingsThe results showed consistent negative effects between food shape abnormality and consumers’ willingness to buy fruits and vegetables. This study also found significant effects related to culture (Hofstede’s cultural dimensions) and to socio-economic (Human Development Index) moderators. The findings demonstrated that cultures with higher power distance levels promoted stronger effects in the relationship between abnormally shaped food and willingness to buy. Additionally, related to social–economy aspects of a nation, the negative effects between abnormally shaped food and willingness to buy are stronger in countries with low human development rates.Practical implicationsPublic policymakers can benefit from the main findings by implementing interventions strategies and education campaigns based on different cultural dimensions. In cultures characterized by high levels of aversion to uncertainty, social communication campaigns can build trust and provide the consumer more knowledge about abnormally shaped fruits and vegetables, whereas in cultures characterized by low levels of masculinity, related to higher levels of sustainability, local producers can benefit from the “local food” positioning to sell abnormally shaped fruits and vegetables.Originality/valueThis research advances studies about consumer behaviour in relation to food waste, highlighting factors beyond aesthetic issues, such as a nation’s culture and its economic context. These results open the way for new work in this area.

Challenges for HR Professionals in the Post-COVID-19 Era

Because of the unexpected changes in business practices tempted by the COVID-19 pandemic, human resource (HR) specialists are working hard to guide and help employees in adapting to the new way of working. On the other hand, HR managers must be prepared to cope with the issues that may occur as businesses adjust to the new normal. The goal of this article is to look at the issues of human resources in the post-COVID-19 era. The study identifies and defines some unique problems that any organization's HR department will confront following the pandemic. Secondary data for this narrative literature study was acquired from various sources, including published articles, reports, and websites. The study's findings are the result of a rigorous review of pertinent data. Remote working concerns, workforce engagement, maintenance, more flexibility, maintaining work-life balance, and raising employee morale were highlighted as long-term Human Resource Management (HRM) challenges in the COVID-19 new normal by this study. The importance of this research lies in the implications it has for businesses as they respond to change. HR professionals can use the study's findings to develop successful methods for adapting to the new reality created by the COVID-19 epidemic. This could assist HR leaders in being better prepared for the post-pandemic new business age.

Teletriage in postlockdown practice.

Covid-19 forced vets to adopt new ways of working and explore technological solutions. At BVA Live, Dave Leicester will be examining the evidence base for telemedicine services, sharing some consumer insights and looking to the future of telemedicine and teletriage services.