Motivational Management in Forced Remote Work : An investigation on how managers motivate subordinates during a forced remote working environment

Abstract: Background: In the beginning of 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic started to spread around the world, banking organisations were forced to move their whole working operations to a remote context. Thus, challenging the traditional management theories since these were developed to be implemented in a stable, physical context. Hence the research will make use of existing motivational management theories, putting them in a forced remote context in order to investigate how managers within the banking industry have utilised them in order to motivate their subordinates during the pandemic.  Purpose: The study aims to investigate how managers within the banking industry motivate their subordinates during a forced remote working environment, making use of existing motivational management theories, putting them in a remote context.  Method: An abductive qualitative approach was adopted, where data was gathered from theoretical conceptualizations, existing literature and through semi-structured interviews. A comparative approach including five managers within four different organisations that operates within the banking sector were implemented. The findings and analysis were conducted using a thematic approach. Which later resulted in contributions on existing motivational management theories. Conclusion: The authors were able to provide several contributions related to four existing theories derived within four themes: communication, trust in employees, delegation of responsibility and giving rewards that best answer the research question on how managers motivate their subordinates in a forced remote working environment.