The coronavirus is not the first pandemic to have caused panic in the workforce. A number of years earlier, as a result of the outbreak of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), the e-commerce business began to grow. Such was the opportunity that would change consumer behaviour and has been growing immensely since. Of course, this occurs mainly for individuals who are digital savvy and who enjoy the idea of getting their daily needs and businesses or work conducted through digital means. Working from home was an idea thought of by Jack M. Nilles in the 70s during the peak of the oil crises that lead to a spike in oil prices, which caused transport expenses and commuting to be expensive. The 2008 economic recession had also pushed companies to cut down, expenses including maintaining physical office spaces and allowing their employees to work from home. A global credit crunch caused the recession, meaning a shortage in funds for lending. We are currently facing a double whammy in the form of a global economic recession and health crisis, triggered by the Covid-19 virus. Economists are not in a position to accurately predict the exact impacts as it still too early to do so, but governments, economies, businesses, and individuals need to do whatever it takes to contain the impacts. Since being coined, working from home has been a subject of much thought, and that the future of work will be more of ‘the work moves to the worker’. Back in 1969, a scientist by the name of Alan Kiron, introduced the term ‘dominetics’, which is a connection between domicile, connections, and electronics, and this is very much suited to Nilles’ idea of working from home.
In summary, there is a plateau of technology solution options for companies to consider, but the selection must be done diligently to ensure employee productivity improves with the investment. Work from home: Is it a trend or is it here to stay “AS WE ARE REQUIRED TO STAY AT HOME DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, WE HAVE WITNESSED MANKIND’S FORCED CHANGE IN DAILY ROUTINE AND LIFESTYLE ALMOST OVERNIGHT. IT IS NOT AN OPTION THAT WE NEED TO BE GENUINE, ADAPTABLE, AGILE, AND CREATIVE TO SURVIVE THE NEW NORMAL. EVERY DAY, I AM FOCUSED ON THE THINGS I HAVE CONTROL OVER, AND I LEARN SOMETHING NEW FROM THE PROCESS. IT IS MOSTLY, MIND OVER MATTER.”
NIK SUZILA HASSAN, CO-FOUNDER, KLOTH MALAYSIA SDN. BHD.
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Malaysian Technology Strategic Outlook 2019/2020 Intergration of High Technology
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