The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Team Management

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused organisational changes and forced greater flexibility in terms of jobs and the digitalisation of business processes, which has also affected team management in a business environment. The aim of this paper is to investigate and systematically show what changes in team management have occurred due to the COVID-19 pandemic in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) engaged in computer programming. For this purpose, the authors conducted in-depth interviews with team leaders in a sample of companies from Varaždin County in Croatia. The research results reveal how SMEs responded to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. These include, among others, reorganising team roles and responsibilities, ensuring timely and transparent communication, adapting employees to new ways of working, and strengthening organisational culture to preserve fundamental corporate values. The research also showed what the observed companies have done to put in place measures to resolve future crises and the fundamental positive changes in team management caused by the pandemic. Therefore, in addition to the scientific contribution, this paper can be of practical help to those facing the challenge of leading teams during challenging times, such as that of COVID-19.