Abstract:
Nowadays workers are able to conduct their works from home rather than
doing it in their work places with the help of technological
advancement. People's jobs and lifestyles have changed as a result of
advances in information and communication technology. At the same time,
COVID-19 pandemic also has led to the people to work from home without
any option. Accordingly, the present study aims to examine the effectiveness
of working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic based on the academic
staff of the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka. To achieve this aim, it
includes sub-objectives such as identifying the factors that determine the
effectiveness of working from home, finding out the challenges faced by the
academic staff, and finding out the solutions to the challenges faced by the
academic staff. According to that total population was selected to collect the
data and 105 responses were collected from them. The data was collected
through structured questionnaires with five-point Likert-scale questions. The
collected data was analyzed descriptively using SPSS software. According to
the research findings, management support, family support, and the
environment are major determinants of the effectiveness of working from
home. This study found that completing scheduled tasks on time, conducting
exams, teaching practice sessions, communicating with students, and
attending conferences and meetings are challenges for the academic staff who
work from home. Therefore, this research recommends providing flexible
hours for staff, providing a loan scheme for setting up a home office, and
investing in technological infrastructure to improve the process of efficiency
and delivery of academic work.
