This document discusses the relationship between the industrial revolution, COVID-19 pandemic, and work from home practices. It notes that the development of information and communication technologies has made working remotely easier. During the COVID-19 pandemic, movement restrictions caused many employees to work from home. While this transition presented challenges, it also had benefits like increased flexibility and reduced costs for employers. The pandemic accelerated digital transformation and increased reliance on virtual communication tools. As a result, remote work is likely to become more common even after the pandemic ends.

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SHORT COMMUNICATION
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, COVID 19 & WORK FROM HOME:
A DISCUSSION
CATHERINE DULING ANAK BRITTEN @ DANA
Universiti Malaysia Sabah
Email: catherineduling1998@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Following the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the world, including Malaysia, the government
has declared a Movement Control Order (MCO) to require the closure of schools throughout
Malaysia to break the chain of transmission of the COVID-19 epidemic for the safety of all.
The government has also issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that all walks of life
must follow. The development of information and communication technology makes it easier
to complete tasks outside the workplace with the availability of good Internet access,
technological facilities such as computers, laptops, and smartphones. This arrangement will
make working from home easier and possibly reduce the cost of employers to provide such an
arrangement. This discussion touches on the interrelationship of three key concepts: the
industrial revolution, the COVID-19 pandemic, and work-from-home practices. The context of
this discussion also refers to employees' ability to work flexibly, especially at home, by using
technology to perform work tasks.
[Keywords: digital transformation; industrial revolution; COVID-19; work from home]
The term 'Industrial Revolution' was initially coined by a French economist named Auguste
Blanqui in 1837. It aims to acknowledge the increase in economic and social changes caused
by the shift of hand-made products and the use of simple tools to machine-made products. in
factories. Today, Malaysia has undergone four industrial revolutions that have covered
significant social changes. The first industrial revolution began in the late 18th century where
mechanical production facilities were introduced to everyone. In this era, machines with water

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and steam power generators were produced to assist workers in the mass production of food
and goods. With this machine, humans can produce more products in a shorter period. Next,
the second industrial revolution or also known as the Industrial Revolution 2.0. where it began
in the early 20th century, this time, machines that function and are generated by electricity have
been developed and introduced to the rest of the world. This machine is easier to operate and
maintain than machines generated using water and steam energy because it is cheaper and
faster. In the last few decades of the 20th century, the third industrial revolution took place due
to the advancement of the electronics industry. Various types of electronic devices have been
created, and it helps in production, reduces dependency, increases speed and has high accuracy.
Some of the devices created are transistors and integrated circuits that help the machine operate.
In short, the Industrial Revolution 3.0 is a change in automation to provide more efficient
processes and manufacturing.
Meanwhile, the Industrial Revolution 4.0 is a digital revolution that combines
traditional manufacturing processes and technologies such as (IoT) to improve automation,
communication, and the use of real-time data. In short, the industrial revolution is about cyber-
physical systems and systems that can connect the digital world with humans via the Internet.
This technology can affect the lives of five billion people and help improve their living
standards. Technology is a term that is no longer foreign in today's society. It can be said that
every individual has their technology, such as laptops or personal computers, mobile phones,
and other devices. The connection between technology and humans today is very close. It is as
if without technology, humans would die or live imperfect lives. This fact can be said to be an
easy picture for most people to understand.
Naturally, in reality, this is undeniable because, without such devices, an individual will
find it difficult to do and perform his daily work. This matter is said to be so because this
technology is an essential element that everyone except children should possess. Technology
is seen as a practical approach or technique by using scientific knowledge or a branch of
knowledge to solve a related problem. This technology is also understood as a product or
material that results from technological processes, such as hardware and software. Through the
definition, it can be concluded that technology does not only involve the use of sophisticated
and up-to-date hardware or software, but technology is also closely related to effective ways

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or techniques or processes in the use of hardware or software itself. Technological advances
nowadays are multiplying in line with the era of globalization and the era of Industrial
Revolution 4.0 now, many technologies have been created to facilitate daily human life. There
is the advancement of computer technology and the boom of information technology through
Internet technology, satellite, electronic media, and cyber technology. With the availability of
this existing technology, all data and information can be stored, processed, and transferred
quickly. It does not require a complicated process. When talking about a process, there is a
catalyst that can speed up or slow down a process. The technological explosion that has taken
place throughout human civilization, especially information technology, is a significant
catalyst to globalization. The development of information and communication technology
(ICT) that has taken place has significant relevance to globalization. These developments have
led to great changes to the world community in general and Malaysia in particular because our
country is a rapidly developing country and taking advantage of globalization. ICT, which
makes a society more advanced in the era of globalization, has made Malaysia a rapidly
achieving modernity.
The public also knows that Malaysia is not left behind in feeling the advancement of
technology in order to enhance national development. This achievement is due to the creation
of technology that is increasingly advanced to increase the country's development in several
aspects such as political, economic, and social aspects. However, increasingly sophisticated
technology must now be used wisely so that it does not bring negative impact. Therefore,
Malaysians need to use the opportunities available that are with the help of technology, can
increase progress in the country's development through the mastery of knowledge and skills to
operate any technology provided. Information and communication technology or ICT is a
technology that is the technology required for data processing. It can also be linked to all
aspects of information management and processing. In short, the use of computers and software
to modify, store, protect, process, transfer, view, and retrieve information regardless of time
and place. However, information technology is not limited to the Internet and computers only;
it also involves television, telephone, mobile phone, fax, and satellite systems to deliver
information to recipients. There are three essential foundations in using information
technology; namely, information technology is to gather information. The following basis is to
manipulate information and re-process the image, and the third is that it is used to communicate

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that is it explains how information technology is used to communicate to obtain information
from the source to the recipient.
Next, the term Work from Home or better known as Work from Home, began to erupt
in the era before the 4.0 industrial revolution again. Referring to a quote from Adrianne Bibby's
writing in the Flexjobs column, she states that Working from Home in the Middle Ages was
designed to combine domestic activities but more in support of commercial ventures in one
living space. In the modern context, various types of jobs are done at home and earn a lucrative
income. Among the examples of work are telemarketers, software designers, graphic designers,
and e-commerce. This development has led to an increase in the number of workers doing work
at home.
Following the announcement by the YAB Prime Minister regarding the Movement
Control Order (PKP) from 13 March to 14 April 2020 to curb the spread of the COVID-19
epidemic. Civil and private servants have been instructed to Work from Home. This
development can also be seen with the distribution of circulars to each agency related to
working from home guidelines that need to be followed by civil servants. Heads of services are
required to coordinate tasks to be followed by staff in their respective departments. However,
there are various potentials and challenges in performing tasks at home, and it requires the
attention of employees who want to perform those tasks.
Even so, working from home has a positive angle for employees. Employees can learn
new technologies, be educated in time management, effective planning, and more focused
execution. During the Movement Control Order period, from the employer's point of view,
before ordering work from home, the employer, in turn, surveys to identify the capabilities of
employees and resources that can help them do work from home. In the context of employees,
after receiving assignments that need to be done at home, they need to pay attention to the
following: the willingness to learn and use new technologies, commitment, discipline, and
targets, have equipment and workspace, and clear communication. Employees need to have a
high willingness to explore technologies that can be leveraged in helping simplify tasks at
home. This action is vital to curb the spread of COVID-19 so that it does not spread widely.
Work from home is a term for working remotely, that is, working from home. Employees do
not have to come to the office and be physically face to face with other employees. Working
from home is not unfamiliar to freelancers, but they more often use the term remote work.

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Work from home, remote work, telecommuting, teleworking, and working from home
is the same thing, yet there are only slight differences in terms of the rules in the form of
employment. Next, long-distance work is becoming increasingly common due to the increasing
amount of technology that has dramatically facilitated working from home. All types of tasks
can mostly be executed smoothly through the application system that has been provided.
Working from a distance will cause the employee's time to be more flexible. Employees need
to be responsible for managing their commitment to work as well as family. Employees should
be wise in managing time so as not to invite increased stress on themselves.
Similarly, the employer must also tolerate his employees so that employee satisfaction
increases to increase employee productivity. Employees should avoid piling up tasks so as not
to be burdened with tedious tasks. The inevitable surge in the use of digital technology is due
to MCO, which requires societies to adopt new norms around the world. Increased
digitalization is causing companies and educational institutions to shift to the practice of
working from home. The problems of job monitoring, job adjustment, and technostress will
become prominent with the increasing presence of digital interactions. In the aspect of
continuous monitoring, digital technology makes it easier for superiors and managers to call
and locate their employees at any time and ensure they can be contacted at all times. However,
with the increasing use of online technology, online fraud tends to be so rampant that the
security of users is compromised due to problems such as hacking of personal information and
invasion of privacy.
Ultimately, it is vital to have a trusting attitude in individual employees not to get
involved in the theft of users' data. However, organizations and governments are aware of this
threat and take action. For example, the government is taking a firm stance on sessions for
education by forcing platform providers to increase security. Following the COVID-19
pandemic, there has been an increase in the use of the Internet and Internet-based services to
communicate, interact and continue their job responsibilities at home. Such video conferencing
services have seen a tenfold increase in the use and delivery of content compared to before the
COVID-19 pandemic. As the use of video and audio-conferencing tools increases,
organizations will improve their technology infrastructure. This improvement will increase
investment in bandwidth expansion, network equipment, and software that leverage public
services. Just as employees will become accustomed to the idea of working from home,
meeting, and transacting online, firms will shift to the practice of working from home as the

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norm and not as an exception, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic phase turns endemic in
the future.
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