Remote and Hybrid Working during Crisis: Challenges and Implications for Employee Development in Africa

Desere Kokt and Crispen Chipunza

A chapter in People Management - Highlighting Futures from IntechOpen

Abstract: The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the associated lockdowns imposed by governments exposed disparities in how organisations on different continents were prepared for unplanned uncertainties. While the global north organisations, with their advanced adoption of 4IR technologies, quickly moved in to find affordable ways to ensure business continuity, adjustments by organisations in the global south were challenged by lack of modern advanced affordable technologies. The abrupt adoption of technologies associated with the fourth industrial revolution [4IR] in the global south meant an increased emphasis on remote working - a concept that has been taboo, especially in South Africa. The adoption meant fitting into a new world of work, which requires agility, re-learning, and de-learning of skills. The chapter aims to unpack the work challenges organisations face in times of crises and what it means for employee development in an African context.

Keywords: remote working; hybrid working; fourth industrial revolution [4IR]; Africa; new world of work; employee development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ito:pchaps:268195

DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.107023

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