Title: Communication media as mediators of telework frequency and knowledge sharing in Japan under COVID-19

Authors: Remy Magnier-Watanabe

Addresses: Graduate School of Business Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tokyo, Japan

Abstract: This paper examines how telework frequency has affected the usage of major communication media, and subsequently knowledge sharing, among a large sample of full-time Japanese employees with no prior telework experience during the country's fourth COVID-19 state of emergency. Results suggest that mandatory telework resulted in lower use of face-to-face meetings and phone calls; in higher use of instant messaging and virtual meetings, and that it had no effect on e-mail use. Moreover, phone call, instant messaging, and virtual meeting frequencies were found to mediate the relationship between telework frequency and knowledge sharing. These findings highlight the importance of both existing and newer communication media in offsetting the loss of face-to-face meeting opportunities. Government-mandated telework may have accelerated the adoption of new communication tools such as instant messaging and virtual meeting, which had not yet gained full acceptance before the pandemic.

Keywords: telework; COVID-19; knowledge sharing; communication media; Japan.

DOI: 10.1504/IJWET.2023.131139

International Journal of Web Engineering and Technology, 2023 Vol.18 No.1, pp.62 - 79

Received: 01 Sep 2022
Received in revised form: 16 Dec 2022
Accepted: 21 Feb 2023
Published online: 31 May 2023 *