THE IMPACT OF VIRTUALITY FOR THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND WORSHIP IN TIMES OF COVID-19

Abstract

Considering the new behavioral dynamics resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the international community, the governments and their respective ministries have been forced to find new ways to address their roles. This research responds specifically to the challenges and benefits that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship (Spanish: MREC) has encountered in dealing with a virtualized global environment, and how the different actors and stakeholders have faced the new normality. For this reason, it is important to examine, through a qualitative and descriptive approach, the impact that virtuality has had on MREC, to evaluate the Ministry’s management in the face of the need to virtualize its functions and services, to determine the added values, challenges and difficulties that have been encountered when implementing teleworking in the face of task virtualization, and to identify the digital platforms used to migrate to virtualization. The research proves that despite the challenges, the processes have been virtualized in an effective and timely manner, thanks to the prompt response of the MREC. Finally, it is recommended to interview more officials from the departments studied, or other departments actively involved with the functions of the Ministry.