How organizations foster an environment an environment that supports effective virtual teams: An examination of the evidence

The purpose of this research is to understand how the actions and values of an organization fosters an environment that promotes effective virtual teams.How Organizations foster an environment that supports effective virtual teams: An examination of the evidence Jeff Zivick Doctor of Management, UMUC, 2012 [email protected] Background • Globalization, business advantages and technology advances are driving the expanding use of virtual teams. – 80% of companies expect virtual teams to become integral to their business strategy (2008, Institute for Corporate Productivity) – TRW Automotive developed leadership training program and tool specifically for managers of virtual teams (Duckworth, 2008) – Volvo’s IT Division formed a “Collaboration Services Group” to function as an internal consultant to improve effectiveness of their virtual teams (Adamson, 2009) – PriceWaterhouseCoopers uses virtual teams to join employees on solving client problems (Bell & Kozlowski, 2002)Context Benefits Increased productivity Improved problem solving Higher quality decisions Increased creativity & innovation Rapid formation/response Assemble best qualified staff Reduced expenses Challenges Coordination Leadership Conflict resolution Team cohesion Uniform technology Technology proficiency SocializationContext Examples • Legitimacy – Local managers may not see progress/value of virtual teams – Employees may fear losing visibility with their local supervisors • Leadership – “How can I manage them if I can’t see them?” – Project leadership virtually across time and space – ‘Soft’ relational issues become more important – Compensate for naturally occurring activities and exchanges in a traditional environment. • Communications – Mode, time delay, media richness, non-verbal cues, language proficiency, technological proficiency are all potential issues for the virtual teamSignificance • An organization’s ability to achieve its goals and mission is related to the effectiveness of its virtual teams. • Organizations working in today’s globalized world are using virtual teams to maximize the use of their talent regardless of location. • To date much of virtual team research focused on studying issues at the level of the team and individual • Research gap exists in investigating and understanding the relationship, role and influence of parent organization on effectiveness of virtual teamsResearch Question & Argument • The purpose of this investigation is to understand how the actions and values of an organization fosters an environment that promotes effective virtual teams. • The research question is: How does an organization foster an environment that promotes effective virtual teams? • This study’s argument is that the contextual factors that define the work environment in which virtual teams function are influenced by the actions and values of the parent organization.Key Literature Themes & Authors • Definition of virtual teams – Bell & Kozlowski – Jarvenpaa & Leidner – Lipnack & Stamps – Martins, Gilson & Maynard • Key topic areas and seminal researchers – Organizational Culture: Schein, Hofstede – Communication: Maznevski, Chudoba – Leadership: Bell, Kozlowski, Kayworth – Trust: Jarvenpaa, LeidnerConceptual FrameworkResearch Methodology • Evidence-Based Research Synthesis (EBRS) Method – Analyzes and synthesizes secondary research findings to answer research question • Configurational Research is a sub-type of EBRS methods used in this investigation – Acceptable research may be quantitative or qualitative and may use similar or differing research methods – Synthesis of findings searches for interpretive patterns in data – Emergent patterns may be linear or non-linear • Key EBRS/Configurational Research theorists: – Rousseau, Manning & Denyer, Gough, Meyer, Tsui and Hinings, Sandelowski, SlavinFindings & ResultsManagement Practice Implications • Organizations that use virtual teams to execute its business strategy are necessarily concerned about their effectiveness • Understanding how the attributes of an organization foster effective virtual teams may give organizations a competitive advantage • Investments are necessary beyond just technology • Organizations may improve the effectiveness of their virtual teams by viewing them as part of their strategic plans and not in isolationFuture Research Potential • Primary research/case study focused on organizations who are successful and unsuccessful at fostering effective virtual teams • New research on organizational change theory specifically associated with implementation of virtual teams • Longitudinal analysis of effective virtual teams and advances in computer and communication technolog

Snowmass 2021 CMB-S4 White Paper

This Snowmass 2021 White Paper describes the Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4 project CMB-S4, which is designed to cross critical thresholds in our understanding of the origin and evolution of the Universe, from the highest energies at the dawn of time through the growth of structure to the present day. We provide an overview of the science case, the technical design, and project plan

Snowmass 2021 CMB-S4 White Paper

This Snowmass 2021 White Paper describes the Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4 project CMB-S4, which is designed to cross critical thresholds in our understanding of the origin and evolution of the Universe, from the highest energies at the dawn of time through the growth of structure to the present day. We provide an overview of the science case, the technical design, and project plan

Snowmass 2021 CMB-S4 White Paper

This Snowmass 2021 White Paper describes the Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4 project CMB-S4, which is designed to cross critical thresholds in our understanding of the origin and evolution of the Universe, from the highest energies at the dawn of time through the growth of structure to the present day. We provide an overview of the science case, the technical design, and project plan

Snowmass 2021 CMB-S4 White Paper

This Snowmass 2021 White Paper describes the Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4 project CMB-S4, which is designed to cross critical thresholds in our understanding of the origin and evolution of the Universe, from the highest energies at the dawn of time through the growth of structure to the present day. We provide an overview of the science case, the technical design, and project plan

Snowmass 2021 CMB-S4 White Paper

This Snowmass 2021 White Paper describes the Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4 project CMB-S4, which is designed to cross critical thresholds in our understanding of the origin and evolution of the Universe, from the highest energies at the dawn of time through the growth of structure to the present day. We provide an overview of the science case, the technical design, and project plan

Snowmass 2021 CMB-S4 White Paper

This Snowmass 2021 White Paper describes the Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4 project CMB-S4, which is designed to cross critical thresholds in our understanding of the origin and evolution of the Universe, from the highest energies at the dawn of time through the growth of structure to the present day. We provide an overview of the science case, the technical design, and project plan

Snowmass 2021 CMB-S4 White Paper

This Snowmass 2021 White Paper describes the Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4 project CMB-S4, which is designed to cross critical thresholds in our understanding of the origin and evolution of the Universe, from the highest energies at the dawn of time through the growth of structure to the present day. We provide an overview of the science case, the technical design, and project plan