Sharing Knowledge in Multi-generational Teams in Remote Working Conditions During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic has contributed to changing the philosophy of managing a multi-generational team. The COVID-19 pandemic is accompanied by a general atmosphere of uncertainty, which creates a sense of chaos and disorganization. Its effects are felt by numerous organizations from many industries. Entrepreneurs have the opportunity to maintain business continuity by implementing remote work. Companies are increasingly opening up to remote work, seeing many new opportunities in it that they want to actively use. Hence, there is an urgent need for companies to develop effective actions that will motivate a multi-generational team to share knowledge, strengthen its skills and competences in this area, and build commitment to ongoing work for optimal performance of permanent duties. Although it requires more effort, especially from the managerial staff, remote implementation of the duties entrusted to multi-generational teams may prove effective in achieving business goals thanks to the knowledge and experience of specialists. Team management in the covid reality has taught Polish managers that in order to stimulate people to be active in sharing knowledge, it will be crucial to show care for the needs of employees and integrate them with the goals of the organization. This approach underlies how companies manage multi-generational teams efficiently in the Covid reality and will pay off in the future.The considerations in the article were based on literature studies and the analysis of the results of surveys conducted from March to November 2022 on a group of 258 people representing all generations.The first part of the study is of a theoretical nature and discusses the factors determining the efficient sharing of knowledge in multi-generational teams in conditions of remote work forced by the epidemiological situation. The second part of the study concerns pilot studies conducted in Polish companies in order to obtain and analyze the opinions of employees regarding the conditions for sharing knowledge in the situation of remote work, which came suddenly. This article is an attempt to answer the question of whether belonging to a specific generational group has a positive effect on the transfer of knowledge during a pandemic. Obtaining a cross-sectional nature of the considerations is a contribution to further and extended research in the field of the issues raised.