ABSTRACT
Date: 01/21/2021
Level: Bachelor thesis in Business Administration, 15 cr
Institution: School of Business, Society and Engineering, Mälardalen University
Authors: Nathali Chammas Khansaa Dirkey Stephen Mann
(96/07/11) (92/04/22) (85/04/16)
Title: The Role of Agency and Autonomy in Non-voluntary Adoption of Remote Work Environments.
Tutor: Inti Lammi
Keywords: Agency, Autonomy, Remote Work Environment, COVID-19, Adaptation,
Organizational learning
Research
Questions: How is the agency and autonomy of employees affected from a non-
voluntary Remote work environment due to the current COVID 19
pandemic?
Purpose: The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of pre-COVID-19 studies on
Agency and autonomy and remote work to the current reality.
Method: Qualitative study by conducting eight interviews with employees and
managers from six different firms. The study is conducted using an
abductive approach.
Conclusion: The authors have discovered that Swedish knowledge workers adopting a remote work environment are experiencing an increase in agency and autonomy even when involuntarily forced into a remote work environment. However, not all benefits are present due COVID-19 . Even though there is an increase in agency and autonomy, employees are partly benefiting from this change because external factors relating to an employee's personal lives are affecting them negatively.
2021. , p. 59