Global Strategic Human Resource Management Practices and Systems Considerations for Virtual, Remote-Working Employees in COVID-19 Pandemic Era: A Triangulation of Meta-Methods

Abstract

Virtual organisations have progressively pervaded the world where groups of workers implement boundaryless, concurrent, and cooperative job processes outside physical job environments. This is made possible by internet accessibility; and information, communication, and technology (ICT) which organises and integrates employees’ abilities and assets for the sole purpose of achieving the overall organisational goal. Virtual jobs offer fresh management problems in comparison to conventional in-person job habits. Human resource specialists reveal that various managers suffered from deficient capabilities and power during COVID-19 lockdown in comparison to conventional working environment management. A meta-evaluative research was conducted in order to conceptualize an evidence-based synopsis on virtual administration of remote-working employees and propose an applicable conceptual framework. The research utilised sixteen peer-reviewed published articles on management of virtual remote-working employees between 2020 and 2023. The results were able to systematically demonstrate remote working procedures of diverse organizations facilitated by virtual processes and technologies, and strategic human resources management model as well as collaborative methodologies that empowered the peculiar COVID-19 virtual workspaces. Communication, information technology and managerial proficiencies are paramount for managers of employees in such settings. Consequently, a conceptual framework for management of remote-working employees have been designed containing managerial expertise, trainings, ICT and environmental components. Managers are required to have the necessary abilities required to anticipate diverse circumstances and to prepare beforehand activities that counter likely contradictions and disputes. Virtual remote-working groups deliver great prospects; thus, managers should aim to capitalise on its benefits while seeking to minimise its drawbacks. Keywords: Remote-Working, Strategic Human Resource Management, Virtual.