THE IMPACT OF ICT ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN THE COVID-19 ERA IN BOTSWANA

The Covid-19 pandemic struck the world in 2019 and caught humanity unprepared. Globally the pandemic brought normal life processes to a halt and caused much disruption to the lives of millions. Across the globe many lost jobs and livelihoods whilst the work environment had to eventually go on, a new way of doing things had to be introduced and adopted. This study seeks to show how establishments and entities have turned to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to reintroduce the world to a world of work where the environment or work interaction has virtual aspects to it nested in ICT network services and various social media. New businesses, modes of production and work engagements and processes have emerged from the advent of the pandemic as a way of ensuring continued operations and productivity. LaBerge et al (2020) then show how, according to McKinsey, companies have digitized their customer and supply-chain interactions, highlighting how ICT supported commerce allows establishments and individuals to continue working outside the confines of their base or traditional work environment. Through study of various academic publications related to the research topic this study explores key questions relating to how ICT helps companies to stay productive, relevant and competitive in this newly transformed business and economic environment. First, it looks at what ICTs have been adopted to address employee effectiveness. Secondly how adopted technologies are helping with employee performance? and third, what the practical implications of ICT use in the current state of the Covid-19 challenged economic landscape are? This study draws and highlights lessons learned from various works on how different establishments in different sectors have started recognizing the strategic importance of ICT, and what steps they have taken to use ICT as a factor of performance improvement and management during and possibly after the Covid-19 pandemic.