IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/futbus/v11y2025i1d10.1186_s43093-025-00521-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The sustainable lifestyle and social values of Knowledge Nomad in Malaysia: post-COVID-19 revivification

Author

Listed:
  • Muhammad Shuhaily Mohd Jasmany

    (University of Malaya
    National University of Malaysia)

  • Maisarah Hasbullah

    (University of Malaya)

  • Mohd Zufri Mamat

    (University of Malaya)

  • Maria Shu Hong Bee Abdullah

    (Sultan Idris Education University)

Abstract

This paper reviews on the concept of work that has undergone a remarkable transformation after the post-COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia among the Knowledge Nomad with the changes, adapting and redefining their lifestyles to fit the evolving landscape. However, there is a gap on employees’ understandings the ways to develop future skills to enhance work–life balance. This study has two objectives. The first is to examine Knowledge Nomad understandings of Sustainable Lifestyle (SL) post-COVID-19 in Malaysia; and the second is to investigate “KN” habits of life skills management on the social values impacts post-COVID-19 in Malaysia. The focus of this paper is mainly focusing on the first phase of the study. It suggested an expectation of mismatch between what employers want and what employees see as being important. The research delves into the multifaceted challenges faced by this group of Knowledge Nomad in post-COVID-19 Malaysia on their living a sustainable lifestyle in relation with social values inculcated. This qualitative study was carried out with a group of fifteen (15) purposive sampled, self-voluntary participants of Knowledge Nomad from sub-urban and urban areas in Malaysia who took part in the online questionnaire, with six (6) self-uploaded and shared their selected picture (auto-photography) online. The online responses and the verbatim transcriptions of the online focus group discussion were analysed using Thematic Analysis and Photo Elicitation method whereas the auto-photography pictures were analysed using visual and content analysis. The findings of this study suggest that the life skills management habits of KN have the potential to positively impact social values in Malaysia. This study revealed that by promoting flexible work cultures, they engage in community activities while adopting more sustainable lifestyle practices. Knowledge Nomads are contributing to a broader societal shift towards more sustainable and inclusive culture of living and working, significantly create more understandings and awareness of promoting resilient human capital with better quality of life among future Malaysian KN workforce. The outcome of the study is hoped to be able to provide a baseline of which how the government agenda such as the “Malaysia Madani” concept will be able to be future proof.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Shuhaily Mohd Jasmany & Maisarah Hasbullah & Mohd Zufri Mamat & Maria Shu Hong Bee Abdullah, 2025. "The sustainable lifestyle and social values of Knowledge Nomad in Malaysia: post-COVID-19 revivification," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:futbus:v:11:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1186_s43093-025-00521-x
    DOI: 10.1186/s43093-025-00521-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1186/s43093-025-00521-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1186/s43093-025-00521-x?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stephany I Pasaribu & Frank Vanclay & Yongjun Zhao, 2020. "Challenges to Implementing Socially-Sustainable Community Development in Oil Palm and Forestry Operations in Indonesia," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-19, February.
    2. Ohler, Adrienne M. & Loomis, David G. & Ilves, Kadi, 2020. "A study of electricity savings from energy star appliances using household survey data," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    3. Valerio Giustino & Anna Maria Parroco & Antonio Gennaro & Giuseppe Musumeci & Antonio Palma & Giuseppe Battaglia, 2020. "Physical Activity Levels and Related Energy Expenditure during COVID-19 Quarantine among the Sicilian Active Population: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Herstatt, Cornelius & Tiwari, Rajnish, 2020. "Opportunities of frugality in the post-Corona era," Working Papers 110, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Institute for Technology and Innovation Management.
    5. Daniel W. O’Neill & Andrew L. Fanning & William F. Lamb & Julia K. Steinberger, 2018. "A good life for all within planetary boundaries," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(2), pages 88-95, February.
    6. Jon D. Wisman, 2023. "The 2023 Veblen-Commons Award Recipient: Jon D. Wisman: Thorstein Veblen, the Meaning of Work, and its Humanization," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 57(2), pages 355-374, April.
    7. Longyu Shi & Linwei Han & Fengmei Yang & Lijie Gao, 2019. "The Evolution of Sustainable Development Theory: Types, Goals, and Research Prospects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-16, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tianyi Qiu & Yu Shi & Josep Peñuelas & Ji Liu & Qingliang Cui & Jordi Sardans & Feng Zhou & Longlong Xia & Weiming Yan & Shuling Zhao & Shushi Peng & Jinshi Jian & Qinsi He & Wenju Zhang & Min Huang &, 2024. "Optimizing cover crop practices as a sustainable solution for global agroecosystem services," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. repec:osf:osfxxx:svg7x_v1 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Rostami-Tabar, Bahman & Ali, Mohammad M. & Hong, Tao & Hyndman, Rob J. & Porter, Michael D. & Syntetos, Aris, 2022. "Forecasting for social good," International Journal of Forecasting, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 1245-1257.
    4. Olatz Azurza-Zubizarreta & Izaro Basurko-PerezdeArenaza & Eñaut Zelarain & Estitxu Villamor & Ortzi Akizu-Gardoki & Unai Villena-Camarero & Alvaro Campos-Celador & Iñaki Barcena-Hinojal, 2021. "Urban Energy Transitions in Europe, towards Low-Socio-Environmental Impact Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-29, October.
    5. Anna Rutkowska & Katarzyna Kacperak & Sebastian Rutkowski & Luisa Cacciante & Pawel Kiper & Jan Szczegielniak, 2021. "The Impact of Isolation Due to COVID-19 on Physical Activity Levels in Adult Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-9, January.
    6. Castro, Damaris & Bleys, Brent, 2023. "Do people think they have enough? A subjective income sufficiency assessment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    7. zu Ermgassen, Sophus & Drewniok, Michal & Bull, Joseph & Walker, Christine Corlet & Mancini, Mattia & Ryan-Collins, Josh & Serrenho, André Cabrera, 2022. "A home for all within planetary boundaries: pathways for meeting England’s housing needs without transgressing national climate and biodiversity goals," OSF Preprints 5kxce, Center for Open Science.
    8. Sueur, Cédric & Fourneret, Eric & Espinosa, Romain, 2023. "Animal capital: a new way to define human-animal bond in view of global changes," OSF Preprints svg7x, Center for Open Science.
    9. Ragnheiður Bogadóttir, 2020. "The Social Metabolism of Quiet Sustainability in the Faroe Islands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, January.
    10. D. D’Amato, 2021. "Sustainability Narratives as Transformative Solution Pathways: Zooming in on the Circular Economy," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 231-242, June.
    11. Hametner, Markus, 2022. "Economics without ecology: How the SDGs fail to align socioeconomic development with environmental sustainability," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    12. Lijun Zhou & Lucen Liu & Yan Wang & Yuxian Ou & Zijing Zhao, 2021. "Exploring the Relationship between Leisure and Sustainability in a Chinese Hollow Village," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-17, September.
    13. Ivanova, Diana & Wieland, Hanspeter, 2023. "Tracing carbon footprints to intermediate industries in the United Kingdom," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    14. Junuguru Srinivas & Naveen Kolloju & Akanksha Singh & Siriman Naveen & Sudhaveni Naresh, 2024. "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals-2030," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(4), pages 15485-15498, December.
    15. Luyang Chen & Lingbo Liu & Hao Wu & Zhenghong Peng & Zhihao Sun, 2022. "Change of Residents’ Attitudes and Behaviors toward Urban Green Space Pre- and Post- COVID-19 Pandemic," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-16, July.
    16. Schaffartzik, Anke & Duro, Juan Antonio, 2025. "Rising inequality: A material perspective on the Great Recession in the European Union," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    17. Garlapati, Vijay Kumar & Chandel, Anuj K. & Kumar, S.P. Jeevan & Sharma, Swati & Sevda, Surajbhan & Ingle, Avinash P. & Pant, Deepak, 2020. "Circular economy aspects of lignin: Towards a lignocellulose biorefinery," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    18. Felipe Vásquez & Gibran Vita & Daniel B. Müller, 2018. "Food Security for an Aging and Heavier Population," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-19, October.
    19. Dorn, Franziska & Maxand, Simone & Kneib, Thomas, 2024. "The nonlinear dependence of income inequality and carbon emissions: Potentials for a sustainable future," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    20. Zia Ullah & Mohammed Ali Bait Ali Sulaiman & Syed Babar Ali & Naveed Ahmad & Miklas Scholz & Heesup Han, 2021. "The Effect of Work Safety on Organizational Social Sustainability Improvement in the Healthcare Sector: The Case of a Public Sector Hospital in Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-18, June.
    21. Infante-Amate, Juan & Travieso, Emiliano & Aguilera, Eduardo, 2024. "Unsustainable prosperity? Decoupling wellbeing, economic growth, and greenhouse gas emissions over the past 150 years," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:futbus:v:11:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1186_s43093-025-00521-x. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.