Kandela Õun

Virtual work usage and challenges in different service sector branches

Purpose – Virtual work presents new challenges for managers compared to using ordinary, face‐to‐face work practices. The purpose of this paper is to show how different virtual work types are related to different challenges that require different managerial and co‐operation approaches.Design/methodology/approach – Empirical data were gathered during a period of two years using a questionnaire (3,156 respondents from 323 companies representing different Estonian service sector branches) and interviewing.Findings – The paper concludes that a higher level of work virtuality leads to a lower level of work satisfaction, mainly due to inappropriate management techniques and problems related to information and communication technology‐mediated communication.Research limitations/implications – The sample consists of only service sector organizations, limiting generalization of the results to the practice of manufacturing companies.Practical implications – The results will help managers of service organizations to ...

Factorial structure of SILL revisited: adaptation of SILL for Estonian EFL learners

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5128/ERYa11.15 The present study aims to contribute to the understanding of the taxonomy of language learning strategies (Oxford 1990: 14–22) and its measuring instrument, the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL), through the adaptation process of the Estonian version. The translated version of the SILL was pilot-tested with a sample of 337 tertiary students. Cronbach’s alpha (0.91) reveals an acceptable reliability of the instrument. The t-test that was conducted in addition to descriptive analysis, to check for gender differences, did not reveal any significant differences. The results of the exploratory factor analysis did not support the 2- or 6-factor structures but the 9-factor analysis provides a good comparison to similar studies published in 1995 (Oxford, Burry-Stock 1995). The ethnic and gender differences of the results are discussed from the cultural perspective.