Social Ties in Globally Distributed Software Teams: Beyond Face-to-Face Meetings

Abstract This article explores the process through which social ties in globally dispersed software development teams are created and renewed. The paper argues that because face-to-face (F2F) meetings and ICT are limited in providing support for the build-up and renewal of social ties in long, complex globally distributed projects, other activities should be introduced before and after F2F meetings. Based on case studies carried out at SAP and LeCroy, and through the examination of activities introduced in these teams before and after F2F meetings, the paper concludes that globally distributed teams (GDTs) should be "re-socialized" to ensure that interpersonal ties do not fade away and collaborative work is not hampered. The article provides an array of activities and communications tools at the individual, group and organizational level for the introduction, build-up and renewal stages of social ties. It concludes by offering managers practical implications and making suggestions for future research.

[1]  Rajiv Sabherwal,et al.  The role of trust in outsourced IS development projects , 1999, CACM.

[2]  Manju K. Ahuja,et al.  Socialization in Virtual Groups , 2003 .

[3]  A. Pettigrew.  Longitudinal Field Research on Change: Theory and Practice , 1990 .

[4]  Daniel Robey,et al.  Situated learning in cross-functional virtual teams , 2000 .

[5]  Prashant Palvia,et al.  Management Information Systems Research: What's There in a Methodology? , 2003, Commun. Assoc. Inf. Syst..

[6]  Anna Grandori,et al.  Governance Structures, Coordination Mechanisms and Cognitive Models , 1997 .

[7]  Sirkka L. Jarvenpaa,et al.  Communication and Trust in Global Virtual Teams , 1999, J. Comput. Mediat. Commun..

[8]  Tabitha L. James,et al.  A Study of Communication and Coordination in Collaborative Software Development , 2006 .

[9]  Scott Shane,et al.  Network Ties, Reputation, and the Financing of New Ventures , 2002, Manag. Sci..

[10]  David Gefen,et al.  Some antecedents and effects of trust in virtual communities , 2002, J. Strateg. Inf. Syst..

[11]  E. Prater,et al.  A Research Framework for the Impact of Cultural Differences on IT Outsourcing , 2006 .

[12]  Sirkka L. Jarvenpaa,et al.  Is Anybody Out There? Antecedents of Trust in Global Virtual Teams , 1998, J. Manag. Inf. Syst..

[13]  Erran Carmel,et al.  The Maturation of Offshore Sourcing of Information Technology Work , 2002, MIS Q. Executive.

[14]  L. Sproull,et al.  Coordinating Expertise in Software Development Teams , 2000 .

[15]  Audris Mockus,et al.  An Empirical Study of Speed and Communication in Globally Distributed Software Development , 2003, IEEE Trans. Software Eng..

[16]  Leigh Weiss,et al.  Coordination Networks within and Across Organizations: A Multi-Level Framework , 2004 .

[17]  Wanda J. Orlikowski,et al.  Knowing in practice: Enacting a collective capability in distributed organizing , 2002, STUDI ORGANIZZATIVI.

[18]  E. Wynn,et al.  Virtuality and Team Performance: Understanding the Impact of Variety of Practices , 2006 .

[19]  Youngjin Yoo,et al.  Dynamic nature of trust in virtual teams , 2002, J. Strateg. Inf. Syst..

[20]  B. Rosen,et al.  Managing the life cycle of virtual teams , 2004 .

[21]  Andrea L. Larson.  Network Dyads in Entrepreneurial Settings: A Study of the Governance of Exchange Relationships , 1992 .

[22]  Merijn de Jonge,et al.  Collaborative software development , 2001 .

[23]  P. Ring,et al.  Relational Quality: Managing Trust in Corporate Alliances , 2001 .

[24]  OshriIlan,et al.  Social ties, knowledge sharing and successful collaboration in globally distributed system development projects , 2005 .

[25]  Li-Te Cheng,et al.  Building Collaboration into IDEs , 2003, ACM Queue.

[26]  J. Overhage,et al.  Sorting Things Out: Classification and Its Consequences , 2001, Annals of Internal Medicine.

[27]  K. Subramanian,et al.  Leveraging Resources in Global Software Development , 2001, IEEE Softw..

[28]  John Child,et al.  Trust—the fundamental bond in global collaboration , 2001 .

[29]  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..

[30]  Matthew B. Miles,et al.  Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook , 1994 .

[31]  J. Roberto Evaristo,et al.  Collaborative Infrastructure Formation in Virtual Projects , 2002 .

[32]  Thomas H. Davenport,et al.  Book review:Working knowledge: How organizations manage what they know. Thomas H. Davenport and Laurence Prusak. Harvard Business School Press, 1998. $29.95US. ISBN 0‐87584‐655‐6 , 1998 .

[33]  Richard Heeks,et al.  Synching or Sinking: Global Software Outsourcing Relationships , 2001, IEEE Softw..

[34]  V. Govindarajan,et al.  Building an effective global business team , 2002, IEEE Engineering Management Review.