From face-to-face to virtual teams: work organization during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

Context: Work teams in the Human Resources and Financial Department of a large consumer goods company needed to reorganize and adapt themselves to the compulsory remote work imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Through daily online meetings, they interacted, learned to deal with the new scenario, perceived difficulties, and found opportunities. Now, they are facing uncertainty about to what extent this work organization will be maintained in the medium-  and long-term. Teaching goals: Analyze the characteristics of the work-teams, reflect on the factors that facilitated and hindered the performance of virtual teams, and assess the challenges faced by the virtual teams created on a compulsory basis. The case generates reflection about face-to-face and virtual teamwork, as well as on barriers, facilitators, and challenges for the implementation of remote work, which enables fostering competencies and skills of recognition, definition, and resolution of problems, strategic thinking, and proposals for changes in work organization. As it presents different contexts and opinions, sometimes contradictories, careful referrals are required. Data source: The case is based on real data obtained through an electronic questionnaire sent to employees in June 2020. The name of the company was kept confidential. Although real speeches, characters, and their interaction are fictional. Applicability: It can be used as a teaching tool in modules related to Human Resource Management, Organizational Behavior, and Team Development, present in postgraduate courses. Teaching notes establish educational objectives, recommended use of the case, lesson planning, and guiding questions for discussion in class.

Keywords: teaching case; teamwork; virtual teams; organizational behavior; Covid-19