Home-based e-working under COVID-19 pandemic conditions: Insights from corporate organizations in Ghana

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak and the subsequent lockdowns and restrictions by many countries worldwide to control the spread of the virus forced several organizations to shift work to homes, aided by digital technologies. However, digital infrastructure and homeworking space, which facilitate home-based e-working, are constrained in the developing world. It is, therefore, crucial to understand how developing country organizations maintain business operations under pandemic situations using home-based e-working and the challenges it poses. This study employs interpretive qualitative research methodology with a socio-technical perspective to explore home-based e-working under COVID-19 conditions using five reputable corporate organizations in Ghana. Findings from the study show that home-based e-working under pandemic conditions can be seen as a business continuity strategy that requires business continuity policy and plan, digital infrastructure and platforms, and cybersecurity. The findings also identified the challenges as partial work virtualization, cybercrime, transition cost, digital divide, and home environment constraints. The findings have implications for research and organizational management in developing countries.