ISSN: 2222-6990
Open access
This study explored the Kolej Yayasan Pelajaran Johor (KYPJ) lecturers' and academic managers' acceptance and challenges towards the ‘work from home (WFH) implementation. Generally, it is a new way of teaching and delivering methods and produced several challenges for both parties despite their acceptance of the new teaching and learning mode. A qualitative approach (phenomenology) was used. Ten (10) informants were interviewed, consisting of eight (n=8) lecturers from the hospitality department and two (n=2) managers of the academic department who are currently handling the WFH process. The interviews were done via Google Meet due to the movement control order, and all interviews were manually transcribed, hand-coded, and analyzed for themes. In total, sixteen (n=16) themes have emerged from this study. The first five (5) themes represent the acceptance of WFH, which include adherence to government policy, concern for safety, cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and family bonding. From the themes, it can be concluded that the participating lecturers accepted the WFH concept and implementation well. The lecturers can also adapt well to the WFH implementation even if the KYPJ management decides to continue after the pandemic. In terms of the challenges of WFH implementation, six (6) themes have been developed: internet connectivity, disconnection from colleagues/lack of social interaction, the separation between home life and work life, new teaching platform, disturbance, and health anxiety. Information on the challenges experienced by the lecturers can serve as a tool for the management to better cater to the needs of the lecturers in enhancing the teaching and learning process. Finally, five (5) themes emerged regarding the challenges faced (3 themes) and strategies used (2 themes) by the academic managers' regarding the WFH implementation. The themes for challenges are lack of workforce, information distribution, and employee participation, while the strategies formulated for strategies are academic meetings and ICT support. This study hopes to provide sufficient data to KYPJ in enhancing the WFH teaching and learning process. Understanding the lecturers' acceptance and challenges helps KYPJ better support lecturers in the teaching and learning process and in their emotional stability. KYPJ can better understand the necessary support needed and better strategize its resources to ensure the employees are happy despite the new working norm. Knowing the academic managers' struggles and strategies in ensuring the WFH implementation run smoothly provides empirical data to better prepare KYPJ in managing its programs if there is a need for WFH in the future.
Abas, N., Kalair, E., Dilshad, S., & Khan, N. (2021). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on community
lifelines. Continuity & Resilience Review, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print).
https://doi.org/10.1108/CRR-05-2021-0022
Adams, D., Chuah, K. M., Sumintono, B., & Mohamed, A. (2021). Students' readiness for e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic in a South-East Asian university: A Rasch analysis. Asian Education and Development Studies, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print).
https://doi.org/10.1108/AEDS-05-2020-0100
Afrianty, T. W., Artatanaya, I. G., & Burgess, J. (2022). Working from home effectiveness during
COVID-19: Evidence from university staff in Indonesia. Asia Pacific Management Review, 27(1), 50 –57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmrv.2021.05.002
Al Ahbabi, J. M., & Ahmad, S. Z. (2021). Using health-care technology to manage COVID-19
pandemic: A case of Al-Ain city hospital, UAE. Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies, 11(3), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1108/EEMCS-10-2020-0356
Alkhwaldi, A. F., & Abdulmuhsin, A. A. (2021). Crisis-centric distance learning model in Jordanian higher education sector: Factors influencing the continuous use of distance learning platforms during COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of International Education in Business, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIEB-01-2021-0001
Almahasees, Z., & Qassem, M. (2021). Faculty perception of teaching translation courses online during Covid-19. PSU Research Review, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print).
https://doi.org/10.1108/PRR-12-2020-0044
Almeida, F., & Santos, J. D. (2020). The effects of COVID-19 on job security and unemployment in Portugal. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 40(9/10), 995-1003. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-07-2020-0291
Alt, D., & Naamati-Schneider, L. (2021). Online argumentation-based learning aided by digital
concept mapping during COVID-19: Implications for health management teaching and learning. Health Education, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print). https://doi.org/10.1108/HE-12-2020-0125
Anderson, D., & Kelliher, C. (2020). Enforced remote working and the work-life interface during lockdown. Gender in Management: An International Journal, 35(7/8), 677-683.
https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-07-2020-0224
Anthony Jnr, B., & Noel, S. (2021). Examining the adoption of emergency remote teaching and
virtual learning during and after COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Educational Management, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print). https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-08-2020-0370
Appel-Meulenbroek, R., Voordt, T. v. d., Aussems, R., Arentze, T., & Le Blanc, P. (2020). Impact of activity-based workplaces on burnout and engagement dimensions. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, 22(4), 279-296. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRE-09-2019-0041
Bellmann, L., & Hübler, O. (2021). Working from home, job satisfaction and work–life balance
– robust or heterogeneous links? International Journal of Manpower, 42(3), 424-441.
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJM-10-2019-0458
Bhumika. (2020). Challenges for work–life balance during COVID-19 induced nationwide lockdown: Exploring gender difference in emotional exhaustion in the Indian setting. Gender in Management: An International Journal, 35(7/8), 705-718. https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-06-2020-0163
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in
Psychology, 3(2), 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Chen, I. S. (2020). Turning home boredom during the outbreak of COVID-19 into thriving at home and career self-management: The role of online leisure crafting. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 32(11), 3645-3663.
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCHM-06-2020-0580
Christopher, E. (2021). Diversity in International Management: A Silver Lining to the Covid-19 Cloud – Overcoming Management Resistance to Employee Telework. In M. Chavan & L. Taksa (Eds.), Intercultural Management in Practice (pp. 53-68). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83982-826-320211006
Creswell, J. W. (1998). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions. SAGE Publications.
Creswell, J. W. (2008). Educational research: Planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research (3rd ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.
Dilmaghani, M. (2021). There is a time and a place for work: Comparative evaluation of flexible work arrangements in Canada. International Journal of Manpower, 42(1), 167- 192. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJM-12-2019-0555
Duff, A. J., & Rankin, S. B. (2020). Exploring flexible home arrangements – an interview study of workers who live in vans. Career Development International, 25(7), 747-761.
https://doi.org/10.1108/CDI-02-2020-0029
Errichiello, L., & Pianese, T. (2020). Toward a theory on workplaces for smart workers. Facilities
38(3/4), 298-315. https://doi.org/10.1108/F-11-2018-0137
Farooq, R., & Sultana, A. (2021). The potential impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on work from
home and employee productivity. Measuring Business Excellence, ahead-of-print.
https://doi.org/10.1108/MBE-12-2020-0173
Fuchs, C. (2021). Everyday Life and Everyday Communication in Coronavirus Capitalism. In
Communicating COVID-19 (pp. 17-61). Emerald Publishing Limited.
https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80117-720-720211003
Gauer, S., & Germann, B. (2021). Managing COVID-19 in workplaces – a theoretical framework for integral employees’ health. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRE-10-2020-0045
Gupta, V., Roy, H., & Sahu, G. (2021). How the tourism & hospitality lecturers coped with the
transition to online teaching due to COVID-19: An assessment of stressors, negative sentiments & coping strategies. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 30, 100341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2021.100341
Hamdan, K. M., Al-Bashaireh, A. M., Zahran, Z., Al-Daghestani, A., Al-Habashneh, S., & Shaheen, A. M. (2021). University students' interaction, internet self-efficacy, self-regulation and satisfaction with online education during pandemic crises of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2). International Journal of Educational Management, 35(3), 713-725.
https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEM-11-2020-0513
Hoang, A.D. (2020). Pandemic and teacher retention: Empirical evidence from expat teachers in Southeast Asia during COVID-19. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 40(9/10), 1141-1166. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-07-2020-0269
Hosoda, M. (2021). Telework amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: Effects on work style reform in Japan. Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/CG-09-2020-0390
Imhanrenialena, B. O., Obi-anike, O. H., Okafor, C. N., & Ike, R. N. (2021). The changing nature of traditional work settings and the emerging virtual work environments in Africa: The experience of Nigerian women. Gender in Management: An International Journal, ahead-of-print.https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-06-2020-0181
Jamil, A. H., Mohd Sanusi, Z., Yaacob, N. M., Mat Isa, Y., & Tarjo, T. (2021). The Covid-19 impact on financial crime and regulatory compliance in Malaysia. Journal of Financial Crime, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFC-05-2021-0107
Kapoor, V., Yadav, J., Bajpai, L., & Srivastava, S. (2021). Perceived stress and psychological well-being of working mothers during COVID-19: A mediated moderated roles of teleworking and resilience. Employee Relations: The International Journal, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/ER-05-2020-0244
Kim, H. J., & Jeong, M. (2018). Research on hospitality and tourism education: Now and future.
Tourism Management Perspectives, 25, 119-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2017.11.025
Lal, B., Dwivedi, Y. K., & Haag, M. (2021). Working from home during COVID-19: Doing and managing technology-enabled social interaction with colleagues at a distance. Information Systems Frontiers. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10796-021-10182-0
Lamprinou, V. D. I., Tasoulis, K., & Kravariti, F. (2021). The impact of servant leadership and
perceived organisational and supervisor support on job burnout and work–life balance in the era of teleworking and COVID-19. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 42(7), 1071-1088. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-12-2020-0526
Lee, H. (2021). Changes in workplace practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: The roles of
emotion, psychological safety and organisation support. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance, 8(1), 97-128. https://doi.org/10.1108/JOEPP-
06-2020-0104
Lockwood, G., & Nath, V. (2021). The monitoring of tele-homeworkers in the UK: Legal and
managerial implications. International Journal of Law and Management, 63(4), 396-416. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLMA-10-2020-0281
Lugosi, P., & Jameson, S. (2017). Challenges in hospitality management education: Perspectives from the United Kingdom. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 31, 163-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2016.12.001
Mallett, O., Marks, A., & Skountridaki, L. (2020). Where does work belong anymore? The
implications of intensive homebased working. Gender in Management: An
International Journal, 35(7/8), 657-665. https://doi.org/10.1108/GM-06-2020-0173
Mamonov, S., & Benbunan-Fich, R. (2021). Unlocking the smart home: Exploring key factors
affecting the smart lock adoption intention. Information Technology & People, 34(2),835-861. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-07-2019-0357
Marzban, S., Durakovic, I., Candido, C., & Mackey, M. (2021). Learning to work from home:
Experience of Australian workers and organizational representatives during the first Covid-19 lockdowns. Journal of Corporate Real Estate, 23(3), 203-222.
https://doi.org/10.1108/JCRE-10-2020-0049
Matli, W. (2020). The changing work landscape as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic: Insights from remote workers life situations in South Africa. International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 40(9/10), 1237-1256. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSSP-08-2020-0386
Metwally, A. B. M., Diab, A., & Mohamed, M. K. (2021). Telework operationalization through
internal CSR, governmentality and accountability during the Covid-19: Evidence from a developing country. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOA-11-2020-2500
Mitchell, A. (2021). Collaboration technology affordances from virtual collaboration in the time of COVID-19 and post-pandemic strategies. Information Technology & People,
ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-01-2021-0003
Ollo-Lopez, A., Goni-Legaz, S., & Erro-Garces, A. (2021). Home-based telework: Usefulness and
facilitators. International Journal of Manpower, 42(4), 644-660. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJM-02-2020-0062
Olowookere, K. (2021). Managing Family-friendly Policies. Financial and Managerial Aspects in Human Resource Management: A Practical Guide (pp. 107-117). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83909-612-920211011
Paiman, N., & Fauzi, M. A. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic in Southeast Asia: Intervention and
mitigation efforts. Asian Education and Development Studies, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEDS-04-2020-0064
Palumbo, R. (2020). Let me go to the office! An investigation into the side effects of working from home on work-life balance. International Journal of Public Sector Management, 33(6/7), 771-790. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPSM-06-2020-0150
Palumbo, R., Manna, R., & Cavallone, M. (2021). Beware of side effects on quality! Investigating the implications of home working on work-life balance in educational services. The TQM Journal, 33(4), 915-929. https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-05-2020-0120
Parker, L. D. (2020). The COVID-19 office in transition: Cost, efficiency and the social responsibility business case. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 33(8), 1943-1967. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAAJ-06-2020-4609
Prodanova, J., & Kocarev, L. (2021). Employees' dedication to working from home in times of COVID-19 crisis. Management Decision, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-09-2020-1256
Qiu, H., Li, Q., & Li, C. (2021). How technology facilitates tourism education in COVID-19: Case study of Nankai University. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 29, 100288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2020.100288
Razak, N. A., Saeed, M. A., Al-Habies, F. A., Yassin, A. A., & Al-Maliki, M. A. A. (2021). Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local and international students in Malaysian universities. Asian Education and Development Studies, ahead-of-print.
https://doi.org/10.1108/AEDS-05-2020-0098
Sarea, A., Alhadrami, A., & Taufiq-Hail, G. A.-M. (2021). COVID-19 and digitizing accounting
education: Empirical evidence from GCC. PSU Research Review, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/PRR-10-2020-0034
Seabra, C., AlAshry, M., Cinar, K., Raja, I., Reis, M., & Sadiq, N. (2021). Restrictions’ acceptance and risk perception by young generations in a COVID-19 context. International Journal of Tourism Cities, 7(2), 463-491. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-08-2020-0165
Shahriar, S. H. B., Arafat, S., Sultana, N., Akter, S., Khan, M. M. R., Nur, J. M. E. H., & Khan, S. I.
(2021). The transformation of education during the corona pandemic: Exploring the perspective of the private university students in Bangladesh. Asian Association of Open Universities Journal, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/AAOUJ-02-2021-0025
Slabe-Erker, R., & Primc, K. (2021). ICT-enabled organisational flexibility to support sustainable
growth in Europe amidst a pandemic. Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTPM-12-2020-0180
Tan, C. (2020). The impact of COVID-19 on student motivation, community of inquiry and learning
performance. Asian Education and Development Studies, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEDS-05-2020-0084
Tang, K. H. (2020). Movement control as an effective measure against COVID-19 spread in Malaysia: An overview. Journal of Public Health, 30(3), 583- 586. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-020-01316-w
Thaheem, S. K., Zainol Abidin, M. J., Mirza, Q., & Pathan, H. U. (2021). Online teaching benefits and challenges during pandemic COVID-19: A comparative study of Pakistan and Indonesia. Asian Education and Development Studies, ahead-of-print.https://doi.org/10.1108/AEDS-08-2020-0189
Veen, A., Bartram, T., & Cooke, F. L. (2021). Potential, challenges and pitfalls of pay-for performance schemes: A narrative review evaluating the merits for the Australian home care sector. Journal of Health Organization and Management, ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHOM-01-2020-0013
Wong, A. H. K., Cheung, J. O., & Chen, Z. (2021). Promoting effectiveness of “working from home”: Findings from Hong Kong working population under COVID-19. Asian Education an Development Studies, 10(2), 210-228. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEDS-06-2020-0139
World Health Organization. (2020). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
In-Text Citation: (Muhamad et al., 2022)
To Cite this Article: Muhamad, F. H., Sumarjan, N., & Mazlan, N. (2022). Work From Home Acceptance and Challenges in KYPJ: A Dual Perspective. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(11), 955 – 974.
Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s)
Published by HRMARS (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode