Process and technology challenges in swift-starting virtual teams

Virtual teams often face tight schedules and a need to start quickly and perform instantly. The goal of our study was to enhance understanding of the challenges faced by such teams. We used time-interaction-performance theory as the framework for following the processes and functions within virtual teams working on a systems development task. Our study provided a detailed examination of the group process, applied to virtual teams working under time pressure. The challenges faced by virtual teams in such settings showed that teams must work to enhance their effectiveness in multiple dimensions.

[1]  Line Dubé,et al.  The Multi-Faceted Nature of Virtual Teams , 2004 .

[2]  John Short,et al.  The social psychology of telecommunications , 1976 .

[3]  J. McGrath.  Time, Interaction, and Performance (TIP) , 1991 .

[4]  Patricia J. Guinan,et al.  Enabling Software Development Team Performance During Requirements Definition: A Behavioral Versus Technical Approach , 1998, Inf. Syst. Res..

[5]  G. Hofstede,et al.  Culture′s Consequences: International Differences in Work-Related Values , 1980 .

[6]  Dorothy E. Leidner,et al.  Leadership Effectiveness in Global Virtual Teams , 2002, J. Manag. Inf. Syst..

[7]  Sirkka L. Jarvenpaa,et al.  Working together in global virtual teams , 1998 .

[8]  H. Keith Edwards,et al.  Analysis of the effectiveness of global virtual teams in software engineering projects , 2003, 36th Annual Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, 2003. Proceedings of the.

[9]  Starr Roxanne Hiltz,et al.  Effects of Four Modes of Group Communication on the Outcomes of Software Requirements Determination , 1998, J. Manag. Inf. Syst..

[10]  Earl H. McKinney,et al.  The role of communication values in swift starting action teams: IT insights from flight crew experience , 2004, Inf. Manag..

[11]  Peter Mykytyn,et al.  Impact of heterogeneity and collaborative conflict management style on the performance of synchronous global virtual teams , 2004, Inf. Manag..

[12]  Olivier Caya,et al.  Virtual Teams: What We Know, What We Don't Know , 2005, Int. J. e Collab..

[13]  Suprateek Sarker,et al.  Understanding Virtual Team Development: An Interpretive Study , 2003, J. Assoc. Inf. Syst..

[14]  Fadi P. Deek,et al.  Collaborative Problem Solving and Groupware for Software Development , 2003, IEEE Engineering Management Review.

[15]  Jesús Favela,et al.  An Experience in Collaborative Software Engineering Education , 2001, IEEE Softw..

[16]  Bjørn Erik Munkvold.  Implementing collaboration technologies in industry: case examples and lessons learned , 2003 .

[17]  Blake Ives,et al.  Virtual teams: a review of current literature and directions for future research , 2004, DATB.

[18]  Suprateek Sarker,et al.  Implications of space and time for distributed work: an interpretive study of US–Norwegian systems development teams , 2004, Eur. J. Inf. Syst..

[19]  M. Engwall,et al.  Cheetah teams. , 2001, Harvard business review.

[20]  Sirkka L. Jarvenpaa,et al.  Communication and Trust in Global Virtual Teams , 1999 .

[21]  Ilze Zigurs,et al.  A test of task-technology fit theory for group support systems , 1999, DATB.

[22]  Bjørn Erik Munkvold,et al.  Beyond Face-to-Face: A Field Study of Electronic Meetings in Different Time and Place Modes , 2004, J. Organ. Comput. Electron. Commer..

[23]  Jessica Lipnack,et al.  Virtual Teams: Reaching Across Space, Time, and Organizations with Technology , 1997 .

[24]  Ilze Zigurs,et al.  Integration of E-Collaboration Technologies: research Opportunities and Challenges , 2005, Int. J. e Collab..

[25]  Youngjin Yoo,et al.  Emergent leadership in virtual teams: what do emergent leaders do? , 2004, Inf. Organ..

[26]  Linda S. Lotto.  Qualitative Data Analysis: A Sourcebook of New Methods , 1986 .

[27]  Niki Panteli,et al.  Back to Basics: Sharing Goals and Developing Trust in Global Virtual Teams , 2003, Information Systems Perspectives and Challenges in the Context of Globalization.

[28]  Bjørn Erik Munkvold,et al.  Training Students in Distributed Collaboration: Experiences from Two Pilot Projects , 2002 .

[29]  D. Campbell.  Task Complexity: A Review and Analysis , 1988 .

[30]  Kai R. T. Larsen,et al.  Preparing to work in the virtual organization , 2002, Inf. Manag..

[31]  Mahesh S. Raisinghani,et al.  An empirical study of best practices in virtual teams , 2001, Inf. Manag..

[32]  Ilze Zigurs,et al.  A Theory of Task/Technology Fit and Group Support Systems Effectiveness , 1998, MIS Q..

[33]  E.,et al.  GROUPS : INTERACTION AND PERFORMANCE , 2001 .