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From travel to virtual work: The transitional experiences of global workers during Covid-19

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  • Jooss, Stefan
  • Conroy, Kieran M.
  • McDonnell, Anthony

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has transformed how global work is conducted in multinational enterprises. There has been a rapid and forced shift from global mobility to global virtual work. Taking a transition perspective and drawing on event system theory, this paper examines the transitional working experiences of global workers amid a global health pandemic. Through 32 in-depth interviews (pre- and in-Covid-19), our findings reveal how this exogenous event has transformed previously unquestioned and enshrined global work routines. By unpacking the transition process, we find that global workers were challenged to reconfigure the structural and relational dimensions of their global work. We disentangle the strategic and sustainable lessons learnt on the future of global working for multinational enterprises.

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  • Jooss, Stefan & Conroy, Kieran M. & McDonnell, Anthony, 2022. "From travel to virtual work: The transitional experiences of global workers during Covid-19," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(6).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:iburev:v:31:y:2022:i:6:s0969593122000804
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2022.102052
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    2. Tsang, Eric W.K. & Colpan, Asli M., 2025. "Reconciling the tension between contextualization and generalization in qualitative international business research," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(2).
    3. Farndale, Elaine & Horak, Sven & Piyanontalee, Rakoon & Puffer, Sheila M. & Vidović, Maja, 2025. "Looking back to look forward: Disruption, innovation and future trends in international human resource management," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(1).
    4. Bucher, Jana & Lazarova, Mila & Deller, Jürgen, 2025. "Digital technology and global mobility: Narrative review and directions for future research," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(1).
    5. Nguyen, Harvey & Pham, Anh Viet & Pham, Man Duy (Marty) & Pham, Mia Hang, 2023. "Business resilience: Lessons from government responses to the global COVID-19 crisis," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(5).
    6. Mello, Rodrigo & Erro-Garcés, Amaya & Dickmann, Michael & Brewster, Chris, 2025. "A potential paradigm shift in global mobility? The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(1).

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