The sustainable lifestyle and social values of Knowledge Nomad in Malaysia: post-COVID-19 revivification

Abstract This paper reviews on the concept of work that has undergone a remarkable transformation after the post-COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia among the Knowledge Nomad with the changes, adapting and redefining their lifestyles to fit the evolving landscape. However, there is a gap on employees’ understandings the ways to develop future skills to enhance work–life balance. This study has two objectives. The first is to examine Knowledge Nomad understandings of Sustainable Lifestyle (SL) post-COVID-19 in Malaysia; and the second is to investigate “KN” habits of life skills management on the social values impacts post-COVID-19 in Malaysia. The focus of this paper is mainly focusing on the first phase of the study. It suggested an expectation of mismatch between what employers want and what employees see as being important. The research delves into the multifaceted challenges faced by this group of Knowledge Nomad in post-COVID-19 Malaysia on their living a sustainable lifestyle in relation with social values inculcated. This qualitative study was carried out with a group of fifteen (15) purposive sampled, self-voluntary participants of Knowledge Nomad from sub-urban and urban areas in Malaysia who took part in the online questionnaire, with six (6) self-uploaded and shared their selected picture (auto-photography) online. The online responses and the verbatim transcriptions of the online focus group discussion were analysed using Thematic Analysis and Photo Elicitation method whereas the auto-photography pictures were analysed using visual and content analysis. The findings of this study suggest that the life skills management habits of KN have the potential to positively impact social values in Malaysia. This study revealed that by promoting flexible work cultures, they engage in community activities while adopting more sustainable lifestyle practices. Knowledge Nomads are contributing to a broader societal shift towards more sustainable and inclusive culture of living and working, significantly create more understandings and awareness of promoting resilient human capital with better quality of life among future Malaysian KN workforce. The outcome of the study is hoped to be able to provide a baseline of which how the government agenda such as the “Malaysia Madani” concept will be able to be future proof.