Back to a New Normal: In Search of Stability in an Era of Pandemic Disruption – Insight from Practitioners and Academics

Front Cover
Back to a New Normal
In Search of Stability in an Era of Pandemic Disruption— Insight From Practitioners and Academics
CONTENTS
Part I: Workforce and Workplace Challenges and Opportunities
1. Invisible Heroes: The Mission Critical Role of HR During the COVID-19 Pandemic
2. Supply Chain Under Pandemic Pressure: How to Build a More Resilient Supply Chain
3. Healthcare and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Caring for Those Who Care for Us
4. The Pandemic and the Long-Term Unemployed: A Road Map for Job Search Turnaround
5. Monetizing Compassion: The Case for a New-Age Currency
6. From Disruption to Connection: How Mindful Conflict Management Builds Bridges During the Pandemic and Beyond
7. Big Problems, Big Data: The Critical Role of IT During an Era of Pandemic Disruption
8. Networking Postpandemic Just Got Easier AND Harder
9. Pandering to Pandemics: Framing Choices for Success— Insight for CEOs
10. Job Search for the Long-Term Unemployed: A Practical Approach for Practitioners
11. Business Sustainability During a Pandemic: Practical Steps to Succession Planning
Part II: Remote Working Challenges and Strategies
12. How to Thrive While Working From Home
13. A Whole New Ball Game: Motivating and Managing a Remote Work Force
14. Measuring Success During a Pandemic: Time Management, Mindfulness, and Staying Positive
Part III: Remote Learning Challenges and Considerations
15. Asynchronous and Synchronous Online Learning During a Pandemic
16. The Mechanics of Remote Learning and Remote Working: A Logistics Perspective
17. Academic Challenges of Virtual Classes During the Pandemic: Elementary ESL Teacher’s Perspective
18. Resetting the Norm: Leveraging the Pandemic to Increase Equity in Education
Back to a New Normal
In Search of Stability in an Era of Pandemic Disruption— Insight From Practitioners and Academics
Edited by
S. Charles Malka Sullivan University
and
Robert H. Tiell Psychology Resource Group
Information Age Publishing, Inc. Charlotte, North Carolina • www.infoagepub.com
ACKOWLEDGMENTS
Preface
REFERENCES
PART I
WORKFORCE AND WORKPLACE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
CHAPTER 1
Invisible Heroes
The Mission Critical Role of HR During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Teresa A. Daniel
OVERVIEW
THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON EMPLOYEES
THE CHANGING ROLE OF HR DURING THE PANDEMIC
ACCELERATION OF HR’S EMPLOYEE SUPPORT ROLE
CHANGING ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT WORK
IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE
SPECULATION ABOUT OUR POSTPANDEMIC WORLD
Author’s Note
References
CHAPTER 2
Supply Chains Under Pandemic Pressure
How to Build a More Resilient Supply Chain
Lathan Craig Austin
Introduction
SEEING THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC
LEARNING HOW TO RESPOND
ADOPTING RESILIENCE
Priorities for Realizing Resilience
Develop a Supply Network That Is Built on Reliability, Trust, and Diversity
Be Agile in Shifting Logistic Resources Around in Order to Both Respond to and Anticipate Changing Demand
Make Technology Serve as a Transforming Tool
References
CHAPTER 3
Healthcare and the COVID-19 Pandemic
Caring for Those Who Care for Us
Rebecca D. Carpenter
Setting the Stage
INTERPERSONAL TURMOIL
EXAMINING THE ISSUE
DEFINED RESOURCE ALLOCATION
TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION
SUSTAINING FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
References
CHAPTER 4
The Pandemic and the Long-Term Unemployed
A Road Map for a Job Search Turnaround
S. Charles Malka and Robert H. Tiell
THE SCENE: SHOW ME THE NUMBERS
RESEARCH BITES: WHAT DO WE KNOW?
A GOVERNMENT HELPING HAND: IS THERE MUCH TO SHARE?
THE FRAMEWORK: HOW RELEVANT ARE THE ANCHORS?
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: ARE THE ANCHORS REAL ROAD MARKERS?
EPILOGUE: THE LAST WORD?
Authors’ Note
References
CHAPTER 5
Monetizing Compassion
The Case for a New-Age Currency
R. Brayton Bowen
Prologue
THE CASE FOR NEW-AGE CURRENCY
COMPASSION IN ACTION
Organization Culture
Ethics and Values
Diversity and Inclusion
Compassion as a Currency
Stewardship
Leadership
Corporate Social Responsibility
Putting it All Together
References
CHAPTER 6
From Disruption to Connection
How Mindful Conflict Management Builds Bridges During the Pandemic and Beyond
LaVena Wilkin
CONSTRUCTING A MINDFULNESS CONSCIOUSNESS
BEING MINDFUL THAT CONFLICT IS AN OPPORTUNITY
MINDFULLY BUILDING A PSYCHOLOGICALLY SAFE WORKPLACE
MAKING CONNECTIONS THROUGH MINDFUL COMMUNICATION
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Building the Bridge From Disruption to Connection
MOVING FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE—A BRIEF CASE STUDY
CONCLUSION
References
CHAPTER 7
Big Problems, Big Data
The Critical Role of IT During an Era of Pandemic Disruption
Michael Hart
OVERVIEW
BIG DATA SYSTEMS, IOT, AND INFORMATION SECURITY
DATA VISUALIZATION AND MODELING
Computer Hardware
DATA CENTERS
CLOUD COMPUTING
MOBILITY
CYBERSECURITY
FUTURE IMPLICATIONS OF IT AND PANDEMICS
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 8
Networking Postpandemic Just Got Easier AND Harder
Clay Morgan
Introduction
NETWORKING ONLINE—A NECESSARY SHIFT
Networking—a New Normal?
On Successful Networking
#4: Networking Online Is Here to Stay
#3: In-Person Networking Will Become a Richer, More Valuable Experience
#2: Pick the Combination of Networking Events That Will Be Most Beneficial for You
#1: Be Present Where You Are
Networking—Opportunities and Benefits
CHAPTER 9
Pandering to Pandemics
Framing Choices for Success— Insights for CEOs
Lathan Craig Austin
Introduction
THE NEW NORMAL
How Organizations Think
Constructing New Strategies of Survival
Management at Work
BEING NIMBLER AND MORE PRODUCTIVE
The Price of Failure
LEARNING TO FRAME CHANGE
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 10
Job Search for the Long-term Unemployed
A Practical Approach for Practitioners
Robert H. Tiell and S. Charles Malka
PREVAILING JOB SEARCH PRACTICES ARE INSUFFICIENT
A NEW DELIVERY MODEL: THEORETICAL UNDERPINNINGS
CONSIDERING A FEW GUIDING PRINCIPLES
THE DELIVERY MODEL’S CONTEXT AND DYNAMICS
A New Delivery Model: Workshop Sessions
CONSIDERATION OF MEASURES USED
ON THE OVERALL IMPACT OF THE DELIVERY MODEL
A NEW DELIVERY MODEL: LESSONS LEARNED
Practical Recommendations
Authors’ Note
References
CHAPTER 11
Business Sustainability During a Pandemic
Practical Steps to Succession Planning
Orville Blackman
WHAT IS SUCCESSION PLANNING AND WHY IT IS IMPORTANT?
Succession Planning as a Strategy
Measuring Progress
Selecting the Candidate Pool
Mentorship Program
Selecting Mentors and Paring With Mentees
Conclusion
REFERENCES
PART II
REMOTE WORKING CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES
CHAPTER 12
How to Thrive While Working from Home
Terry Kibiloski
Set yourself up for Success in Your Home Office Environment
UNDERSTAND THE BASIC TECHNOLOGY YOU NEED
KEEP YOU AND YOUR COMPUTER HEALTHY
Computer Vision Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Position of Head, Not Wrist Action, Causes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER
BASIC TROUBLESHOOTING TECHNIQUES
DEVELOP NEW SKILLS AND EARN NEW CERTIFICATIONS
CONTROL YOUR OWN INTERNET IMAGE
HOW THE INTERNET HAS CHANGED THE HIRING PROCESS
Thriving While Working From Home Summary
REFERENCES
CHAPTER 13
A Whole New Ball Game
Motivating and Managing a Remote Workforce
Helen MacLennan
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Sharing Space
Management Tips
Security
Management Tips
Employment Law
Work Boundaries
Management Tips
ISOLATION
Communication
Workplace Culture
Management Tips
Insecurity
Negativity
Management Tips
REMOTE WORKFORCE MANAGEMENT SKILLS
Knowledge
Flexibility
Connection
Empathy
Transparency
Communication
CONCLUSION
References
CHAPTER 14
Measuring Success During a Pandemic
Time Management, Mindfulness, and Staying Positive
Kimberly Castle
Introduction
TIME MANAGEMENT
1. Create a workspace that is your own—whether a kitchen table, a spare bedroom, or a large closet. clear it and make it neat and tidy and equipped for work (Forbes, Good Housekeeping, CDC, etc., 2020). A neat and tidy workspace is more productive ...
2. Start the day early, as a normal workday, treating our home office professionally helps productivity (Goldman, 2021).
3. Take scheduled breaks. According to MacArthur (2020), clocking more hours is easy to do because working from home means work is always calling.
4. Get good at setting and managing boundaries. Remember, there is a work team and a home team when working from home and sharing living space with spouses, children, pets, or roommates. This means that discussions about work times must be met with a...
5. Be your own empowered spokesperson. Keep in touch with coworkers and let them know what you are working on and your progress; in other words, toot your own horn! Since working from home does not foster communication and kinship with a company, a l...
Burnout
MINDFULNESS DURING A CRISIS
POSITIVITY DURING TIMES OF CRISIS
1. Happy people take better care of themselves—it makes sense that when we are more happy than sad, we make positive choices.
2. Happy people choose healthy behaviors, like exercising, eating well, and getting good sleep—it makes sense to promote continued positive feelings.
1. Play your favorite inspirational music; this offers us warmth and often reminds us of a hopeful or happy time.
2. As with mindfulness, practice gratitude; look at a negative event as a path to something better.
3. Schedule time to grieve or worry; try not to feel that way outside of the ten minutes allotted daily.
4. Visualize your positive role model; imagine matching that positivity.
5. Visualize the end goal; think of setbacks as growth opportunities.
6. Speak positively; giving voice to negativity negates our way to positivity.
7. Be kind; treat others as we wish to be treated.
8. Be organized; neatness helps us organize our thoughts.
9. SMILE; Smiles are contagious, and they have the power to transform our outlook (Goldman, 2021). Masks have made it more difficult to discern another’s smile. However, smiles can also be inferred through our eye contact, voice tone, and body lang...
SUCCESS
1. Build resilience and mental toughness.
2. When you fall, get up again.
3. Ask for help.
4. Look for the good.
5. Ask who is a shining light during difficult times? And hang out with them!
Conclusion
REFERENCES
PART III
REMOTE LEARNING CHALLENGES AND CONSIDERATIONS
CHAPTER 15
Asynchronous and Synchronous Online Learning During a Pandemic
Anthony A. Piña
ONLINE AS A CONTINGENCY FOR CAMPUS CLOSURES
Higher Ed Institutions Not Well Prepared for a Pandemic
EMERGENCY REMOTE TEACHING
ONE UNIVERSITY’S RESPONSE
Lesson Learned From Past Crises
1. Create the delivery framework:
2. Triage priorities and ledgering:
3. Staffing and support:
4. Cooperate, collaborate, communicate:
Asynchronous Online Instructor Engagement
1. Posting a brief biography to allow students to get to know the instructor better. While text-based announcements are still dominant, faculty are increasingly taking advantage of introductory videos that bring students into their office, homes or h...
2. Posting course announcements at least weekly. Gaudet (2016) suggested that instructors can use course announcements to maximize their presence by allowing themselves to be creative and personal—while still being professional—by using anecdotes...
3. Logging into and monitoring the online course on a daily basis. This allows instructors to monitor student progress, check for student questions and messages, and to quickly identify technical issues with the course. It is also a tangible indicato...
4. Piña and Bohn (2016) found that responding to student inquiries was considered to be the most important indicator of online instructor quality and engagement (tied with instructor feedback below). Having an instructor respond within 1 day of the ...
5. Providing helpful feedback to student assignments. This was also seen as a critical indicator of quality and engagement. Feedback is most helpful when it is timely and includes constructive guidance and explicit expectations (Getzlaf et al., 2009)...
6. Moderating and participating in discussion boards. Many instructors mistakenly believe that online discussion boards are to be used exclusively for student-to-student interaction. Instructors’ active participation in online class discussions are...
7. Grading assignments in a timely manner. Grading and feedback tend to be the most time-consuming tasks for the online instructor; however, students often require the feedback from prior assignments to allow them to properly improve and prepare for ...
SYNCHRONOUS ONLINE INSTRUCTOR ENGAGEMENT
1. Prerecord lectures, demonstrations, and presentations. Instructors can best utilize their live synchronous videoconference time for activities that require students’ active participation, such as question- and-answer sessions, one-on-one feedbac...
2. Create a detailed agenda and share it with students. An agenda helps to keep instructors and students on task, reduces wasted or irrelevant time, and helps to assure that all intended topics are addressed.
3. Make transitions explicit. In the absence of physical transitions of moving into groups or coming back together, instructors can provide transitional pauses between different learning activities or discussion topics. This allows students to a few ...
4. Just as with on-campus, classes, synchronous instructional sessions should include taking regular breaks (e.g., 5 minutes for every 30 minutes of instruction) to provide students with the opportunity to get up, stretch, or use the restroom. Breaks...
5. Provide active learning opportunities. In addition to instruct-to- student interaction, synchronous class sessions should times where students engage in peer-to-peer interaction. These activities may include peer-taught class segments, minicase st...
6. Be more flexible on attendance requirements. If students have connectivity issues or other circumstances that cause them to miss a synchronous session, plan for a research assignment or another alternative to the live assignment. Sessions can also...
RESOURCES FOR ASYNCHRONOUS AND SYNCHRONOUS ONLINE TEACHING
1. Communicating with Students:
2. Delivering Content Online:
3. Ensuring Accessibility:
4. Meaningful Discussions:
5. Online Tests and Assessments:
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 16
The Mechanics of Remote Working and Remote Learning
A Logistics Perspective
Tom Javarinis
Remote Working in Perilous Times
KEEP YOUR WORK LIFE AND HOME LIFE SEPARATE
ESTABLISH A ROUTINE
CREATE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
COMMUNICATION AND TECHNOLOGY ARE KEY
Be Kind to Yourself
Remote Learning in Perilous Times
NOTES
CHAPTER 17
Academic Challenges of Virtual Classes During the Pandemic
An Elementary ESL Teacher’s Perspective
Joanne Rodriguez Addarich
Introduction
A NEW COURSE IN TEACHING/LEARNING PROCESSES
The Importance of Self-Care
ENGAGING TO LEARN AND LEARNING TO ENGAGE
Teachers’ Opinions About the Impact of the Pandemic in Their Classrooms
Ms. P.M. (Kindergarten Teacher From a Kentucky Public Elementary School)
1. What kind of impact has the pandemic had on your relationship with your students?
2. Have you seen a difference in academic achievement and performance among your students receiving virtual classes as opposed to in-person classes?
3. As a teacher, what is your general opinion concerning virtual classes?
4. Describe your experience with synchronous and asynchronous classes in terms of students’ participation and engagement.
5. Have communication with your students’ parents been different while using virtual classes modality compared to in-person modality? Please explain your answer.
Ms. M.A.H. (Kindergarten Teacher’s Assistant From a Kentucky Public Elementary School)
1. How would you describe your experience with virtual classes?
2. What is your general opinion concerning virtual classes? Pros:
Cons:
Mr. M.F. (Social Studies/Special Education Teacher From a New York Public Elementary School)
1. How would you describe your experience with virtual classes during the pandemic?
Ms. J.R (ESL Teacher at a Public Elementary School in Kentucky)
Conclusion
Author’s note
References
CHAPTER 18
Resetting the Norm
Leveraging the Pandemics to Increase Equity in Education
J. Claudette Howard
Introduction
Navigating the Transition to Online Learning
BRIDGING THE GAPS
1. Prioritize teacher efficacy. One of the blessings of the pandemic has been the ability to spend more time with teachers. Collective teacher efficacy is the highest yield instructional strategy for student acceleration (Hattie & Zierer, 2018). Havi...
2. Celebrate and collaborate with your team. When you are a new principal, you have a new team. Even if the team has been established and was working together before your arrival at a school, the team changes with a new leader. I did not have all of ...
The school closure forced me to celebrate my staff in writing and verbally and it established a positive culture for our school. It also gave people the opportunity to get to know me and to recognize that my passion for racial equity and social justi...
1. Partner with parents. Shortly after being hired, I received information about the current family involvement at our school. It was disappointing to find out that in previous years, the school and the parents had a contentious relationship and that...
2. Systems are vital. With an in-person school, it is easy to get caught up in a reaction loop. You start something and then all of these other things keep popping up. Folks can run down to your office or catch you in the hall and get you off and run...
3. Make your resources work for you. Managing financial and human capital are some of the most underrated skills that school leaders must have. In our district, schools had to manage teacher absences internally. Being required to play Tetris with our...
References
Epilogue
S. Charles Malka and R. H. Tiell
About the Contributors
Back Cover