The Organizational Implications of Electronic Monitoring in the Higher Education Institutions of Bangladesh.

Md. Shakil, Mannan (2024) The Organizational Implications of Electronic Monitoring in the Higher Education Institutions of Bangladesh. PhD thesis, University Malaysia Sarawak.

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Abstract

Electronic monitoring refers to using information and communication technologies and systems to automatically collect, store, analyze, and report information on employees and their activities, enabling an employer to monitor employee work performance. The study examined how the electronic monitoring technologies and systems deployed to monitor employees in Bangladesh universities and further investigated the consequences of technology on employee well-being, work performance, and social relationships. It also attempted to discover what are the gaps in the management practices and propose recommendations to address these gaps in handling its impact. Guided under the panopticon model and psychological reactance theory, two stages of data collection for the research were carried out from 2020 to 2021. An online survey involving thirty-seven (37) academic staff from three (3) private universities in Bangladesh participated in the first round of data collection. In the final round, a case study method and in-depth interview technique were deployed to obtain data from two of these universities. The research revealed that the implementation of several technologies, such as a biometric attendance system, CCTV surveillance systems, a Learning Management System (LMS), and an Integrated University Management System (IUMS), has resulted in the emergence of panopticon effects that have had an impact on employee wellbeing, work performance, and social relationships to a certain degree. The technology implementation as a panopticon that has been intended to foster discipline and commitment in the workplace, resulted in varied responses. The management practices and approaches at these universities in monitoring employees led to the manifestation of panopticon effects. These effects were mainly triggered by circumstances pertaining to the use of electronic monitoring platforms. The unintended reactions encompassed emotions such as discomfort, insecurity, dissatisfaction, and iv scepticism over the effectiveness of using electronic monitoring as intervention measures in enhancing academic staff productivity and performance. The research findings further revealed that academic staff would hold a favourable perspective if the features of these technologies were designed as a panopticon, enabling them to exert greater control, increase visibility, and provide a sense of empowerment within their professional roles. The impact of these technologies on management practices and styles, specifically in the areas of managing and supervising, as well as workplace communication, was found to be minimal. The research also found that the level of awareness among the academic staff about the electronic monitoring applications, as well as the support systems in place, such as the proficiency of the ICT team and the monitoring approaches of the organization, might have an impact on their trust and confidence in the use of electronic monitoring. This study proposed two solutions to address the managerial shortcomings identified in the case studies: risk management practices, and policy and guidelines for electronic monitoring. This study theoretically extended and overcome the limitations of the current panopticon model by employing psychological reactance theory to capture further the interaction dynamic between the panopticon potential of technology and how this influences employees' social behaviour at work while also recognizing authorities' and management's active participation in shaping organizational work culture and practices. The research findings also provide valuable contributions from both management and practical standpoints and have policy implications.

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