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COVID-19 Changes at the Office: Digital Activities that Endured
Publication Information
- Author: Cheryl Marie Cordeiro
- Publication: Today’s Manager (Official quarterly publication of Singapore Institute of Management)
- Issue: Issue 2, 2021
- Pages: 31–32
- Section: Business / The Nordic Perspective
APA Reference
Standard Format:
Cordeiro, C. M. (2021). COVID-19 changes at the office: Digital activities that endured. Today’s Manager, 2, 31–32. Singapore Institute of Management.
With Digital Repository Identifier:
Cordeiro, C. M. (2021). COVID-19 changes at the office: Digital activities that endured. Today’s Manager, 2, 31–32. Singapore Institute of Management. urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-79047
Alternative with DiVA Link:
Cordeiro, C. M. (2021). COVID-19 changes at the office: Digital activities that endured. Today’s Manager, 2, 31–32. Singapore Institute of Management.
https://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ri:diva-79047
Article Summary
Research Focus
The article examines how virtual dining events can support corporate sustainability goals and regional food trends, specifically analyzing how a Nordic energy company adapted work engagement activities during COVID-19.
Key Background
- Nordic organizations quickly adapted to COVID-19 restrictions with work-from-home arrangements.
- Sweden was well-prepared due to being highly digitally developed and already implementing Activity Based Workplaces (ABW), co-working spaces, and hoffices.
- The article addresses organizational inertia and the challenges of transitioning to new technology and work habits during the pandemic.
Case Study: Intric Energy Company
The article focuses on Intric, a multinational enterprise with 2,000+ employees across seven countries, and their Management Trainee Programme (MTP) initiative of virtual cook-and-eat-along events.
Event Structure:
- Voluntary attendance, open to all interested employees
- Held during Nordic dinner hours (5–6 PM)
- Ingredient lists sent one week in advance
- Host leads participants through preparation and cooking
- Casual, lighthearted atmosphere encouraging conversation
- Typically ~20 participants per event
Connection to New Nordic Cuisine (NNC)
- NNC manifesto initiated in Copenhagen (2004) by Claus Meyer and Scandinavian chefs
- Values include short food chains, locally sourced foods, natural and seasonal produce
- Intric incorporated NNC values into corporate practices
- Most recipes shared are plant-based, supporting sustainable ecosystem services
- Company serves only plant-based foods on Thursdays in the corporate canteen
Key Findings
Two Main Learning Points:
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Extended Networks — Virtual events enabled employees from different geographic locations to invite colleagues into their homes/kitchens, extending employee networks beyond physical boundaries.
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Stronger Relationships — Following the company saying “People who eat together, stay together,” these sessions cultivated an extended family feeling, building stronger working relationships across departments and divisions.
Conclusion
While the pandemic strained traditional workspaces and engagement methods, organized virtual events outside regular work portfolios proved useful for encouraging organizational learning and building stronger employee relations. The distributor-to-consumer (D2C) model and similar innovations may persist post-pandemic.
Author Credentials
Cheryl Cordeiro is a Scientist at Nofima’s Department of Marketing Research, holding a PhD in applied linguistics from the University of Gothenburg, with experience in EU-funded projects including “EU-China-Safe” focused on joint EU-China food safety control systems.
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