A Study of the Remote Working Efficiency in IT Project Implementation during the COVID-19 Pandemic KITTISAK UMAJI 1 , WORAPAT PAIREEKRENG 2 1,2 College of Innovative Technology and Engineering, Dhurakij Pundit University, Bangkok, THAILAND Abstract: - Regarding the COVID-19 situation, the purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency and outcomes of information technology (IT) project implementation in the office versus in a remote environment with respect to factors such as productivity, effective teamwork, enjoyment of work, stress and pressure management, and opinions on working styles. The focus was mainly on the role of team members in the engineering mindset. Data was collected through a survey of IT project performance from team members. The questionnaire, which was developed for this study, included 105 respondents and was divided into three parts: 1) general information, 2) project performance results, and 3) engineering mindset concept. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The results of the study indicated that there are significant differences in outcomes between project managers and other team members (such as developers, business analysts, and quality assurance) in terms of the studied factors, Project managers who need to communicate and collaborate with various team members may face challenges or limitations when working remotely. On the other hand, other roles in the project team that can be completed independently and do not require frequent communication with the rest of the team may find remote work more convenient and flexible. Importantly, the survey results also demonstrated that a team member's engineering mindset is a critical factor in the success or failure of projects. Those with a strong engineering mindset tend to implement and deliver projects effectively. Therefore, IT projects are more likely to be successful when the team has a good engineering mindset. Key-Words: -covid-19 ; project implementation; Information Technology; remote working; distance working; engineering mindset Received: June 23, 2022. Revised: December 8, 2022. Accepted: January 11, 2023. Published: February 2, 2023. 1 Introduction COVID-19 has changed the world, and every industry has been affected by the change. Businesses need to change their strategies in order to survive the impact, [1]. Even the Information Technology (IT) industry, which is considered one of the industries that drive the world, has been greatly affected. From 2005 to 2020, the growth of distance work reached 159%, [2], and the number of remote jobs increased by 300% from 2014 to 2019, [3]. That is why virtual or distance work is one of the most popular topics in the era of the new normal. Although using technology is one of the most effective solutions for surviving a crisis, the implementation of IT projects has been affected and has changed dramatically. It is a big challenge to run and implement projects smoothly, having everyone on the project team, including customers, connect and work as if in a normal situation without any repercussions. The project team needs to have special skills, techniques, tools, and a mindset in order to keep the project running smoothly. From now on, the adoption of technology is key to success in every project. Therefore, the implementation of information technology projects is very important. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficiency and outcomes of information technology (IT) project implementation in the office versus in a remote environment with respect to factors such as productivity, effective teamwork, enjoyment of work, stress and pressure management. The focus was mainly on the role of team members (project managers, developers, business analysts, and quality assurance) in the engineering mindset. 1.1 Information Technology Project An information technology project is a task that is completed over a certain period of time using technology. An information technology project encompasses all aspects of the endeavor's strategy, WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on BUSINESS and ECONOMICS DOI: 10.37394/23207.2023.20.36 Kittisak Umaji, Worapat Paireekreng E-ISSN: 2224-2899 400 Volume 20, 2023