Teleworking in the software development sector and its influence on productivity

Abstract

Remote work has changed the way we work in various sectors, especially in software development. This qualitative, descriptive, non-experimental research examines how remote work influences the productivity and time management of software developers in the city of Cúcuta, Colombia. This study arose from the labor changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced employers to completely rethink their way of working, leading to the discovery of benefits and challenges associated with implementing this new modality.

It was decided to conduct interviews with five developers who met the proposed criteria. The interviews were structured to address questions relevant to the development of this research. These questions led us to understand the daily experiences, perceptions, and strategies of remote workers. As a result, we identified improvements in time management and the quality of weekly deliverables thanks to flexible scheduling and the use of collaborative tools. However, limitations to its successful implementation were also found, such as the difficulty of maintaining fluid conversations, social isolation, the lack of boundaries between work and personal life, and the strong need for self-discipline.

Participants agreed that they noticed an increase in their performance compared to the in-person approach, stating that this can easily be overcome with clear structures, defined objectives, and an appropriate environment. The research concluded that remote work in the software industry is viable and beneficial as long as training strategies are implemented. This work is an academic research project and has no institutional funding.