THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE ACHIEVEMENT OF HIGH PERFORMANCE WORK SYSTEMS (HPWS): A CASE OF HARARE CITY COUNCIL, ZIMBABWE
Abstract
Purpose of the Study: The COVID - 19 pandemic caused disruptions in most work places worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the achievement of high performance work systems (HPWS) with specific focus on Harare City Council, Zimbabwe.
Statement of the Problem: The research was necessitated by various changes in the work place as occasioned by the COVID -19 pandemic: working from home/ flexible working, virtual meetings, restricted travel, work-life imbalance and reduction of physical teamwork practices to mention but just a few. There was need for empirical evidence on whether such changes negatively or positively affected HPWS.
Methodology: The study utilized pragmatic research strategies. Harare City Council had 81 employees who practiced remote working/ working from home. A census approach which included all the 81 non-managerial employees as respondents was used, and these completed questionnaires. The quantitative data was analysed using SPSS. 11 managers where subject to face to face interviews as key informants.
Result: Results showed that at Harare City Council as in other organisations, the changes brought about by COVID-19 were implemented in a haste, without planning, without consultations and this negatively affected high performance work systems as employees had to adjust to the new normal without prior training. The implementation of HPWS was not effective due to factors which included lack of adequate resources, lack of emergency preparedness and lack of adequate ICTs. This negatively affected stakeholders who expected efficient service delivery.
Conclusion: Lockdowns completely shut off other employees whose nature of work could not be executed remotely such as cleaners, refuse collectors and road maintenance staff. The study recommended that in order to achieve high performance work systems (HPWS) during pandemics, there was need to expand the use of ICTs including automation of such functions as performance management, recruitment, payment of bills, staff development, salaries and disciplinary procedures at Harare City Council.
Keywords: High performance works systems, Covid-19, transformational leadership, working from home, remote working, Zimbabwe
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