Research And Development Scientists' Construction Of Working Online: A Phenomenological Study Of Virtual Communication During The Covid 19 Pandemic

Abstract

LACANILAO, MARK GUEL B., University of the Philippines Open University, August 2021, Research and Development Scientists' Construction of Working Online: A Phenomenological Study of Virtual Communication During the COVID 19 Pandemic Adviser: Dr. Benjamina Paula G. Flor Applying transcendental phenomenology, I explored my experience working in a Research and Development organization and made sense of how scientists could carry out a laboratory-based job yet working from home. Through zoom interviews, the lived experience of Research and Development scientists was reconstructed to discover how working from home is reflected in communication. Making sense of the lived experience of R&D scientists, the concept of communication resiliency emerged. My inquiry revealed that communication resiliency in R&D organizations showed the inclination to adopt new methods of communicating. Resilient communication strategy during the pandemic allows to perceive threats, maintain an acceptable level of operation and to arrive at decisions needed by the R&D scientists through digital technology that enabled the teams to achieve their goals. R&D scientists showcased the boldness and courage to work through obstacles, explore, and learn by imbibing the reality of the new approach to move forward and reach expected outcomes through virtual communication. R&D scientists needed to adapt according to the changing environment regardless of the limitations to ensure that research and development continuously serve its functions. Hence, communication resiliency refers to the collective and assertive efforts to continuously fulfil task, ability to stay connected to other people delivering a common goal and create new opportunities for flexibility and productivity despite the challenges of communicating online.