ICT-Enabled Flexibility Mitigates Pandemic-Induced Economic Decline
The strategic integration of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) can foster organizational flexibility, thereby buffering against negative economic impacts during widespread crises like pandemics.
Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management · 2021
Key Findings
- 01Strict containment measures require robust ICT solutions for economic survival.
- 02E-commerce is crucial for countries experiencing below-average growth rate decreases.
- 03The impact of telework is contingent on demographic factors, yielding positive results with older populations but potentially negative outcomes with younger populations.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers and strategists should develop flexible operational frameworks that are underpinned by robust ICT, recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach to remote work is not effective across diverse demographic groups.
How to apply
When designing remote work policies or digital transformation strategies, consider segmenting approaches based on workforce demographics and ensuring adequate e-commerce capabilities are in place.
Project actions
- 01When exploring organizational flexibility, consider how technology can enable it.
- 02Investigate how different demographic groups might respond to flexible work arrangements.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Utilizes a sophisticated qualitative comparative analysis method to uncover complex relationships.
- +Integrates macro-level data (government response, economic statistics) with organizational factors.
Limitations
The specific ICT solutions and their effectiveness can vary greatly, making direct comparisons difficult without detailed technical specifications.
Reliability & validity
The use of established datasets (Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker, Eurostat) lends credibility, while the fuzzy-set QCA method aims to capture the complexity and nuances of real-world interactions, potentially enhancing validity.
Think critically
How might the 'mixed results' of telework for different age groups be addressed through specific design interventions or technological adaptations?
Design Principles
"Adaptive technological infrastructure is essential for organizational resilience in the face of unpredictable global events."
In an era of increasing global interconnectedness and potential disruptions, understanding how to leverage technology for resilience is paramount. This research highlights that proactive investment in ICT infrastructure and flexible work arrangements can be a critical differentiator for business continuity and sustainable growth.
What This Means for Your Design
Using technology to be flexible at work can help businesses survive tough times like a pandemic, but how well remote work actually works depends on whether the employees are older or younger.
How to use in your project
- 1.This study can be referenced when discussing the role of technology in enabling flexible design solutions for businesses facing external pressures.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2021). ICT-enabled organisational flexibility to support sustainable growth in Europe amidst a pandemic. Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/jstpm-12-2020-0180 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/3a01760d-dbbf-4e68-b3e8-d7ef564d1d68/ict-enabled-flexibility-mitigates-pandemic-induced-economic-decline
Paragraph starter
The research by Slabe-Erker and Primc (2021) demonstrates that ICT-enabled organizational flexibility is a critical factor in maintaining economic performance during widespread crises. Their findings suggest that robust technological infrastructure is essential for organizations operating under strict containment measures, and that the efficacy of telework is significantly influenced by demographic factors, highlighting the need for nuanced design approaches to remote work strategies.
Source
Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management
ICT-enabled organisational flexibility to support sustainable growth in Europe amidst a pandemic
journal · 2021
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about ict-enabled flexibility mitigates pandemic-induced economic decline?
- Designers and strategists should develop flexible operational frameworks that are underpinned by robust ICT, recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach to remote work is not effective across diverse demographic groups. Evidence: Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management (2021).
- Why does "ICT-Enabled Flexibility Mitigates Pandemic-Induced Economic Decline" matter for design?
- In an era of increasing global interconnectedness and potential disruptions, understanding how to leverage technology for resilience is paramount. This research highlights that proactive investment in ICT infrastructure and flexible work arrangements can be a critical differentiator for business continuity and sustainable growth.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers and strategists should develop flexible operational frameworks that are underpinned by robust ICT, recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach to remote work is not effective across diverse demographic groups.
- What were the main findings?
- Strict containment measures require robust ICT solutions for economic survival.. E-commerce is crucial for countries experiencing below-average growth rate decreases.. The impact of telework is contingent on demographic factors, yielding positive results with older populations but potentially negative outcomes with younger populations.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA).
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Mixed findings, based on a 2021 journal from Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing remote work policies or digital transformation strategies, consider segmenting approaches based on workforce demographics and ensuring adequate e-commerce capabilities are in place.
- What are the limitations?
- The study's findings on telework's effectiveness are context-dependent and may not be universally applicable without further investigation into specific industry and cultural factors.
- Is there evidence that sustainable growth affects design outcomes?
- The study found that while ICT solutions are vital for economic resilience during strict lockdowns, the effectiveness of telework varies significantly with the age demographics of the workforce. In an era of increasing global interconnectedness and potential disruptions, understanding how to leverage technology for res Source: Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management (2021).
- Where does this ict research apply?
- European economies during the COVID-19 pandemic It sits within innovation & design research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
sustainable growth design research · evidence on sustainable growth · does sustainable growth improve design outcomes · ict studies for designers · sustainable growth and ict findings · innovation & design research evidence