Something(s) old and something(s) new: Modeling drivers of global virtual team effectiveness

We developed and tested a model that bridges existing team effectiveness theory with new ideas aimed at understanding the complexity of multiple team membership and virtuality. Using a sample of 60 global, virtual supply teams from a large multi-national organization, we propose that even for new te...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of organizational behavior 2012-04, Vol.33 (3), p.342-365
Main Authors: Maynard, M. Travis, Mathieu, John E., Rapp, Tammy L., Gilson, Lucy L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied psychology
Bridges
Computer software
Consumer goods industries
Coordinate systems
Effectiveness studies
global virtual teams
Group performance
Information workers
Interdependence
Membership
Memory
multiple team membership
Organization theory
Organizational behavior
preparation activities
Supply chain management
Teams
Teamwork
Technology
Time use
transactive memory systems
Virtual reality
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Summary:We developed and tested a model that bridges existing team effectiveness theory with new ideas aimed at understanding the complexity of multiple team membership and virtuality. Using a sample of 60 global, virtual supply teams from a large multi-national organization, we propose that even for new team configurations, transactive memory systems and preparation activities are critical for effectiveness. We also examined the association between members' percentage of time allocated to a team, team virtuality, and interdependence on preparation activities. Our findings suggest that preparation activities related significantly to effectiveness as mediated by transactive memory systems. Furthermore, interdependence interacted with members' percentage of time allocated to the team as related to preparation activities. Specifically, members' percentage of time allocated to the team shifted from being a positive influence on preparation activities to a negative influence as team interdependence went from relatively high to relatively low levels. We discuss implications for theory, research, and practice.
ISSN:0894-3796
1099-1379
DOI:10.1002/job.1772