Abstract
In a world characterized by deep changes, where concepts such as globalization, internationalization, digitalization, and diversity are gaining more and more strength, contributing to the promotion of high levels of competitiveness, organizations find themselves in need of introducing significant changes in their ways of functioning. Often geographically dispersed, these organizations nevertheless need to ensure their connection. At this level, operating through digital means and information and communication technologies, virtual teams assume themselves as working groups that can be adopted by organizations. Effectively, with the increasing levels of digitalization that have been observed in the different sectors of activity, the option to use virtual teams has become an increasingly common reality within organizations that promote distance work. The path towards the effectiveness of digitalization has, in this way, contributed to these teams being created more efficiently, overcoming temporal and spatial barriers, and making it possible to collaborate and share information and ideas in real time. However, the effectiveness of these teams and, consequently, of these new ways of working, imply adequate management of the organization's time and resources, as well as the creation of a collaborative and inclusive culture. Based on this reality and these challenges, this chapter, through a case study, seeks to analyze the management practices adopted (in particular, in terms of human resources management), which facilitate the implementation of work in virtual teams, as well as a brief analysis of the literature supporting this issue.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
This is a fictitious name to guarantee anonymity.
References
Acai, A., Sonnadara, R. R., & O’Neill, T. A. (2018). Getting with the times: A narrative review of the literature on group decision making in virtual environments and implications for promotions committees. Perspectives on Medical Education, 7, 147–155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40037-018-0434-9
Ahenchian, M. R., & McCormick, J. (2009). Culture and the processes of virtual teaming for training. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 25, 386–396. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2729.2009.00314.x
Bell, B. S., & Kozlowski, S. W. J. (2002). A typology of virtual teams: Implications for effective leadership. Group and Communication Management, 27(1), 14–49.
Baptista, N. (2022). The management of cross-cultural virtual teams. European Journal of Human Resource Management Studies, 6(1), 159–173. https://doi.org/10.46827/ejhrms.v6i1.1364
Blackburn, R., Furst, S., & Rosen, B. (2003). Building a winning virtual team. KSAs, selection, training, and evaluation. In C. B. Gibson & S. G. Cohen (Eds.), Virtual teams that work. Creating conditions for virtual team effectiveness (pp. 95–120). Jossey-Bass.
Cascio, W. F., & Shurygailo, S. (2003). E-leadership and virtual teams. Organizational Dynamics, 31(4), 362–376. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0090-2616(02)00130-4
Chaudhary, P., Rohtagi, M., Singh, R., & Arora, S. (2022). Impact of leader’s e-competencies on employees’ wellbeing in global virtual teams during COVID-19: The moderating role of emotional intelligence. Employee Relations: The International Journal, 44(5), 1048–1063.
Davidaviciene, V., Majzoub, K. A., & Meidute-Kavaliauskiene, I. (2020). Factors affecting decision-making processes in virtual teams in the UAE. Information, 11, 490. https://doi.org/10.3390/info11100490
Edsall, D. L., & Conrad, K. A. (2021). Virtual team member perspectives on personal development: A sequential explanatory study. New Horizons in Adult Education & Human Resource Development, 33(3), 3–27. https://doi.org/10.1002/nha3.20340
Garro-Abarca, V., Palos-Sanchez, P., & Aguayo-Camacho, M. (2021). Virtual teams in times of pandemic; factors that influence performance. Frontiers Psychology, 12, 624637. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.624637
Gibson, C. B., & Gibbs, J. L. (2006). Unpacking the concept of virtuality: The effects of geographic dispersion, electronic dependence, dynamic structure, and national diversity on team innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 51(3), 451–495. https://doi.org/10.2189/asqu.51.3.451
Großer, B., & Baumöl, U. (2017). Virtual teamwork in the context of technological and cultural transformation. International Journal of Information Systems and Project Management, 5(4), 21–35. https://doi.org/10.12821/ijispm050402
Haywood, M. (1998). Managing virtual teams: Practical techniques for high-technology project managers. Artech House.
Hertel, G., Geister, S., & Konradt, U. (2005). Managing virtual teams: A review of current empirical research. Human Resource Management Review, 15(1), 69–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2005.01.002
Jarvenpaa, S. L., & Leidner, D. E. (1999). Communication and trust in global virtual teams. Organization Science, 10(6), 791–815. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.10.6.791
Kauffeld, S., Tartler, D., Grafe, H., Windmann, A.-K., & Sauer, N. C. (2022). What will mobile and virtual work look like in the future?—Results of a Delphi-based study. Group, Interaction, Organization (GIO Journal), 53(2), 189–214.
Kirkman, B. L., Rosen, B., Gibson, C. B., Tesluk, P. E., & McPherson, S. O. (2002). Five challenges to virtual team success: Lessons from Saber, Inc. Academy of Executive Management, 16(3), 67–79. https://doi.org/10.5465/AME.2002.8540322
Lauring, J., & Jonasson, C. (2023). How is work group inclusiveness influenced by working virtually? Human Resource Management Review, 33, 100930. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2022.100930
Lawler, E. E. (2003). Pay systems for virtual teams. In C. B. Gibson & S. G. Cohen (Eds.), Virtual teams that work: Creating conditions for effective virtual teams (pp. 121–144). Jossey-Bass.
Lee-Kelley, L., & Sankey, T. (2008). Global virtual teams for value creation and project success: A case study. International Journal of Project Management, 26(1), 51–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2007.08.010
Makarius, E. E., & Larson, B. Z. (2017). Changing the perspective of virtual work: Building virtual intelligence at the individual level. Academy of Management Perspectives, 31(2), 159–178. https://doi.org/10.5465/amp.2014.0120
Marlow, S. L., Lacerenza, C. N., & Salas, E. (2017). Communication in virtual teams: A conceptual framework and research agenda. Human Resource Management Review, 27, 575–589. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2016.12.005
Martins, L. L., Gilson, L. L., & Maynard, M. T. (2004). Virtual teams: What do we know and where do we go from here? Journal of Management, 30(6), 805–835. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jm.2004.05.002
Morrison-Smith, S., & Ruiz, J. (2020). Challenges and barriers in virtual teams: A literature review. Springer Nature Applied Sciences, 2, 1096. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-020-2801-5
Ndubuisi, A., Marzi, E., Mohammed, D., Edun, O., Asare, P., & Slotta, J. (2022). Developing global competence in global virtual team projects: A qualitative exploration of engineering students’ experiences. Journal of Studies in International Education, 26(2), 259–278. https://doi.org/10.1177/10283153221091623
Neuman, G. A., & Wright, J. (1999). 107_Team effectiveness: Beyond skills and cognitive ability. Journal of Applied Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.84.3.376
Pitts, V. E., Wright, N. A., & Harkabus, L. C. (2012). Communication in virtual teams: The role of emotional intelligence. Journal of Organizational Psychology, 12(3/4), 2012.
Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2008). Research methods for business students (5th ed.). Pearson Education. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13398-014-0173-7.2
Simpson, D. (2017). Advantages and disadvantages of international virtual projects teams. International Business and Global Economy, 36, 275–287. https://doi.org/10.4467/23539496IB.17.019.7467
Taras, V., Florea, L., Sahin, F., Celik, D. A., & Çetin, F. (2022). Cohesion and performance in global virtual teams: The moderating role of technical skills. European Journal of International Management, 1(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1504/EJIM.2022.10048936
Topaloglu, M., & Anac, A. S. (2021). Exploring major factors affecting virtual team performance. European Journal of Business and Management Research, 6(5), 107–114. https://doi.org/10.24018/ejbmr.2021.6.5.1071
Townsend, A. M., DeMarie, S. M., & Hendrickson, A. R. (1998). Virtual teams: Technology and the workplace of the future. Academy of Management Perspectives, 12(3), 17–29. https://doi.org/10.5465/AME.1998.1109047
Velez-Calle, A., Mariam, M., Gonzalez-Perez, M. A., Jimenez, A., Eisenberg, J., & Santamaria-Alvarez, S. M. (2020). When technological savviness overcomes cultural differences: Millennials in global virtual teams. Critical Perspectives on International Business, 16(3), 279–303. https://doi.org/10.1108/cpoib-01-2018-0012
Virolainen, H. (2015). Social relationships between members of virtual teams. In Advances in Business-Related Scientific Research Conference 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2023, from Obtained from http://www.chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj, http://www.absrc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/157_harri.pdf
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fernandes, M.I.B., Machado, C.F. (2024). Virtual Teams: An Intelligent Tool on the Path to Digitalization—A Case Study. In: Machado, C., Davim, J.P. (eds) Management for Digital Transformation. Management and Industrial Engineering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-42060-3_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-42060-3_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-42059-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-42060-3
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)