The Impact of Remote Work on Productivity in Engineering Projects

Abstract

This study examined the impact of remote work on productivity within engineering project environments. Specifically, it explores the key factors influencing productivity, the effects of communication, collaboration, and decision-making, and the challenges engineers face when operating remotely. A quantitative research design was employed, utilizing survey data collected from engineering professionals engaged in remote or hybrid work settings. Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 27, including descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, t-tests, ANOVA, and regression analysis.

The findings indicated that work-life balance is the strongest positive predictor of productivity, while remote work setup and virtual meeting effectiveness also significantly influence project outcomes. Challenges such as lack of supervision and difficulty in receiving feedback were found to negatively impact project efficiency. Conversely, simple increases in communication frequency or managerial oversight did not necessarily lead to improved productivity. The study concludes that the quality of communication, timely feedback, supportive supervisory practices, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance are essential for optimizing remote engineering project productivity. Recommendations include implementing flexible work policies, enhancing feedback mechanisms, streamlining decision-making processes, and providing resilience training for remote engineering teams.