Remote Leadership Practices and Challenges in Small Companies: A Qualitative Exploration of Communication, Time Zones, Culture, and Productivity

Win, May Khin Maung (2025) Remote Leadership Practices and Challenges in Small Companies: A Qualitative Exploration of Communication, Time Zones, Culture, and Productivity. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

The transition to remote work has hugely affected small companies in managing teams. But research on leadership in remote settings is still limited. This study focused on how leaders in small companies work through the complications of managing remote teams. Notably in communication, different time zones, diverse cultures, and productivity. This research employed a qualitative method, conducting semi-structured online interviews with five participants who are in leadership positions in small remote teams. Data were collected through voice recording and employed thematic analysis to reveal recurrent themes and understandings from the real-life experiences of the participants. Five key themes were developed. They are Digital Platform Reliance, Managing Time Zone Differences, Leading Cross-Cultural and Communication Practices, Monitoring Productivity and Work Visibility, and Empathetic and Empowering Leadership. These key findings disclosed that remote leadership expands further than digital workflow management. It requires a balance of strategic communication, cultural awareness and emotional intelligence. The findings offer an understanding of remote leadership by focusing on flexibility, trust and empathy in managing successful geographically dispersed teams.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Supervisors:	Name Email -, - UNSPECIFIED
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > Information Science > Communication H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > Leadership H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management > Leadership H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Organisational Behaviour > Organisational Culture H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Quality of Work Life / Job Satisfaction H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Small Business Sector
Divisions:	School of Business (- 2025) > Master of Science in Management
Depositing User:	Ciara O'Brien
Date Deposited:	12 Jan 2026 12:54
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2026 12:54
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/9092

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