Exploring sustainable telework productivity: a framework for adapting to socio-political instability

Nemati, Fatemeh, Amini, Alireza, Ronaghi, MohammadHossein and Lotfi, Maryam ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1261-9834 2026. Exploring sustainable telework productivity: a framework for adapting to socio-political instability. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management 10.1108/IJPPM-09-2025-0976 Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Amid accelerating technological change, the expansion of e-governance, and growing socio-political instability, organizations increasingly depend on telework. This study identifies the key factors that shape effective and sustainable telework productivity in disruptive contexts, with a specific focus on Iran. The research employed a systematic literature review combined with a structured survey. Using equation structural modeling (ESM), the study analyzed causal-hierarchical relationships between productivity indicators by focusing on Iran—a country experiencing persistent political, economic, and social turbulence. Within this fragile context, the electric sector was selected due to its importance and high vulnerability to disruption. Data were collected from 64 managers using a census sampling technique. The most influential drivers of sustainable telework productivity were identified as: (1) productive occupational attitudes, (2) hierarchical support, and (3) provision of resources and infrastructure. In contrast, “telework performance management” emerged as the most impacted yet least influential factor in the model. In the ESM-based hierarchical model, each level's factors exert influence on the levels above while simultaneously being affected by the levels below, reflecting the interdependent structure of the system. This study introduces a unified theoretical framework for productive telework in unstable environments. The research contributes to the performance management literature by demonstrating that telework productivity is shaped not only by infrastructure and managerial mechanisms but also by broader social and organizational dynamics. The study further extends telework scholarship by incorporating contextual considerations related to gender roles, work–family balance, and sustainability concerns. It offers a practical tool for managers, executives, and scholars aiming to enhance telework effectiveness. By focusing on the identified indicators, organizational leaders can define strategic priorities to improve productivity outcomes and build more sustainable remote work systems. While the empirical case focuses on Iran’s electricity sector, the identified factors reflect generic organizational dimensions that can be conceptually applied in other contexts facing comparable disruptions.

Item Type:	Article
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Business (Including Economics)
Publisher:	Emerald
ISSN:	1741-0401
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	1 October 2026
Date of Acceptance:	2 September 2026
Last Modified:	01 Oct 2026 09:15
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189902

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