Format: Virtual via Zoom (link below). Please contact DOSdirectors@rhul.ac.uk if you want to join this event.

8 February 2022 09:00 – 10:30 GMT (UK time)

In this event researchers in the area of remote and hybrid work will be presenting their most recent work on the topic whilst a panel of industry experts will be sharing their own experiences in this area and providing a commentary on the direction of research.

Agenda

Time	Topic
09:00am	Welcome from Prof Niki Panteli
09:10-9:50am	Scholarly Panel (Facilitated by Dr Irene Yu)
09:10am	Dr Petros Chamakiotis (ESCP, Madrid) – 10 mins presentation + 10 mins Q&A
09:30am	Dr Blooma John (University of Canberra, Australia) – 10 mins presentation + 10 mins Q&A
09:50am	9:50 am: Industry Panel (Facilitated by Prof Niki Panteli)
10:10am	Audience Q&A – Discussion (20  minutes)

Following research presentations, the industry panellists will be asked to share their own views on remote/hybrid work, challenges faces and how to resolve them.

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Abstracts & Panellists Biographies:

Scholarly Academic Panel

Dr Petros Chamakiotis – Time to reimagine virtual team leadership post Covid-19

Abstract

The dramatic surge of interest in FinTech over the past few years has highlighted the need for a better Although virtual teams have been around for over two decades, the recent pandemic has given rise to new types of virtual teams which, despite their similarities with earlier virtual teams pre-pandemic, have significant differences. This means that leadership may be different too in this context. Consequently, drawing on recent research, the objectives of this presentation are to explore: (a) how these newly emerged virtual teams differ for previous ones; (b) what we can take away from existing literature on leadership in virtual teams pre-pandemic that may still be relevant; and (c) what is left to be studied to promote academic knowledge and provide further guidance for practitioners. 

Bio

Dr Petros Chamakiotis is an Associate Professor of Management at ESCP Business School in Madrid, Spain, where he is also the Scientific Director of the MSc in Digital Project Management & Consulting. He is also affiliated with the Digital Futures at Work Research Centre in the UK. Petros is interested in the management of technology-mediated forms of work (e.g., hybrid working, virtual teams, digital platforms), and he publishes his work mainly in IS and management journals, as well as in practitioner outlets. Between 2018 and 2021, he served as the Chair of the IFIP Working Group 9.5 on ‘Our Digital Lives’ and he currently serves as an Associate Editor for the Information Systems Journal.

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Dr Blooma John (University of Canberra) – Leading the Digital Workplace Transformation during a pandemic

Abstract

Digital workplace transformation has been through a huge acceleration due to the enforced remote work caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result, knowledge-based organisations had to swiftly use digital technologies to transform their workplaces from the traditional office environment to Work from Home (WFH) or hybrid workplace model. In the hybrid workplace model, some employees return to their workplace and others continue to work from home, though variations exist within this model. In this context, leadership has been identified as critical in the success of the workplace transformation in the post Covid-19 context. Today, as we move towards the new hybrid work environment, there is a need to understand the emerging and successful workplace leadership practices to keep both employees and clients engaged with business activities. The study presented here draws on empirical data collected from Microsoft ANZ corporation to explore how leaders in the organisation develop engagement with employees and clients when a hybrid workplace model is in operation.

Project Partners: Prof Niki Panteli and Microsoft ANZ

Bio

Dr Blooma John is an Assistant Professor of Information Systems at University of Canberra, Australia. She serves as the president of Association for Information Systems Special Interest Group in Education. She won the RMIT award for excellence in learning and teaching in 2015 and commendation for outstanding contribution to student learning in 2021. Her research interests are in social informatics, digital transformation, design science research and educational technologies. She has published her work in various IS journals and conferences. She currently serves as an Associate Editor for the Communications of the Association for Information Systems Journal.

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Industry Panel:

Ms Pip Arthur – Modern work business group leader, Microsoft ANZ

Dr Penny Pullan – Making Projects Work Ltd

Dr Penny Pullan is a renowned expert in Virtual and Hybrid Leadership. She’s the author of the bestseller and CEO Today Top 5 book for lockdown: ‘Virtual Leadership: Practical Strategies for Success with Remote or Hybrid Work and Teams’. Penny works with leaders and teams who are grappling with the challenges of our remote and hybrid world, to enhance their collaboration and effectiveness. Over the last twenty years, Penny has built and rolled out her Virtual Leadership model, facilitation tools and techniques, with companies such as Robert Half, AstraZeneca and the UK Government. Her virtual experience began when she worked for Mars Incorporated, running a global programme despite the flight bans after 9/11. Penny’s other books include ‘Making Workshops Work: Creative collaboration for our time’ and she is the co-author of ‘Managing Successful Programmes’.