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Alles eine Frage der Zeit? Herausforderungen virtueller Teams und deren Bewältigung am Beispiel der Softwareentwicklung

A matter of time? Mastering challenges of virtual team collaboration

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Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. Zeitschrift für Angewandte Organisationspsychologie (GIO) Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Zusammenfassung

Basierend auf einem Fallbeispiel im Bereich Softwareentwicklung liefert dieser Artikel der Zeitschrift Gruppe. Interaktion. Organisation. einen Überblick über Kommunikations- und Koordinationsprozesse in virtuellen Teams. Faktoren wie räumliche Entfernung und Mediennutzung bewirken eine drastische Veränderung der Interaktion im Team und stellen dessen Mitglieder vor neue Herausforderungen. Um diese differenzierter betrachten, verstehen und bewältigen zu können, bietet dieser Beitrag zunächst eine Analyse der strukturellen Dimensionen virtueller Teamarbeit. Zu diesen Dimensionen gehören bspw. räumliche Entfernung, Art und Ausmaß von Mediennutzung sowie Diversität hinsichtlich Sprache, Kultur, oder Arbeitsweisen. Daraus ergeben sich zahlreiche Herausforderungen, u. a. der Umgang mit weniger interaktiven Kommunikationsmedien, das Fehlen situativer Hinweisreize oder die Vernachlässigung der Beziehungsebene. Der Einfluss der Virtualitätsdimensionen wird in diesem Beitrag sowohl anhand des Fallbeispiels praktisch demonstriert, als auch anhand etablierter Teameffektivitätsmodelle theoretisch eingebettet und erklärt. Abschließend werden Handlungsempfehlungen zur langfristigen Verbesserung virtueller Teamarbeit durch Förderung von Anpassungsprozessen in Kommunikation und Teamkognition aufgezeigt.

Abstract

Based on a case study, this article provides an overview of communication and coordination processes in virtual teams. In order to understand the nature of virtual team interactions, the authors begin with an analysis of virtuality dimensions (e. g., geographical dispersion, media use). These dimensions can be connected to specific challenges, such as the lack of interactivity, the absence of social context cues or the low relational focus found in virtual communication. These challenges, in turn, are related to impairments in intrateam processes (e. g., communication) and/or team cognition (e. g., shared mental models). However, problems may be mitigated as teams learn to adapt to their working conditions. These phenomena are both theoretically embedded in a simplified model of virtual team functioning as well as practically demonstrated in the context of the case study. The article concludes with research-based recommendations to promote adaptation in virtual teams.

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  1. Abteilung für Arbeits‑, Organisations-, und Sozialpsychologie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Spielmannstraße 19, 38106, Braunschweig, Deutschland

    Lisa Handke M.Sc. &  Simone Kauffeld

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  1. Lisa Handke M.Sc.
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  2. Simone Kauffeld
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Correspondence to Lisa Handke M.Sc..

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Handke, L., Kauffeld, S. Alles eine Frage der Zeit? Herausforderungen virtueller Teams und deren Bewältigung am Beispiel der Softwareentwicklung. Gr Interakt Org 50, 33–41 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11612-019-00445-5

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