Sociological characteristics of employees as a determinant of distance learning: an empirical analysis

Abstract

Distance learning is an approach which is not new but is gaining on its actuality in occasion of pandemic of Covid-19 virus and for surely is becoming the part of “the new normal”. Companies has oriented themselves toward this approach in order to provide new knowledge and competencies to their employees and to ensure that employees are “in trend” with changes happening on the market. Still, distance learning as approach hasn’t been accepted by all employees in the same way and this fact depends on different determinants, among which the social one is important. The subject of the research in this paper is distance learning, respectively the influence of social determinants on application of this approach to learning. The aim of the research is to identify which social characteristics of the employees and at what level are determining acceptance and application of distance learning in organizations. For the needs of this paper has been conducted empirical analyzes in domestic and multinational companies operating in Serbia. The results of research in this paper represent the initial analyzes of distance learning determinants and can be used as the basis for the creation of plan and strategy of distance learning approach application.