Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Effects of Electronic Collaboration in Distributed Project Management

  • Published:
Group Decision and Negotiation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstact

The emergence and widespread use of collaborative technologies for distributed project management has opened up opportunities for off-shore outsourcing and collaborative development. However, most tools and techniques for project management focus on on-site, long term relationships and sourcing strategies at a time when inter-organizational relationships are becoming more dynamic and geographically dispersed. This paper uses grounded theory to analyze data on virtual teams' projects. The analysis uncovers “effects” in the way in which distributed projects are managed. These effects relate to coordination, communication and adaptation to distributed electronic work environments. Following an analysis of these electronic collaboration “effects”, a model for distributed project management is presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baker, G. (2002). “The Effects of Synchronous Collaborative Technologies on Decision Making: A Study of Virtual Teams,” Information Resources Management Journal 15(4), 79–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barthélemy, J. (2001). “The Hidden Costs of IT Outsourcing,” MIT Sloan Management Review 42(3), 60–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cachon, P. Gérard and Harker, T. Patrick. (2002). “Competition and Outsourcing with Scale Economics,” Management Science 48(10), 1314–1333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carmel, E. and K. Zettl-Schaffer. (1997). Globally Dispersed Software Development Teams: A Definition and Framework. Paper presented at the International Conference on Management of Technology.

  • Collaborative Strategies. (2004). Distributed Project Management: A Marketplace and Software Vendor Analysis http://www.vrtprj.com/forum/article.php?sid=1856.

  • Connolly, T., L. M. Jessup, and J. S. Valacich. (1990). “Effects of Anonymity and Evaluative Tone on Idea Generation in Computer-Mediated Groups.” Management Science 36(6), 689–703.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cramton, D. C. (2001). “The Mutual Knowledge Problem and Is Consequences for Dispersed Collaboration,” Organization Science 12(3), 346–371.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evaristo, R. and van P. C. Fenema. (1999). “A Typology of Project Management: Emergence and Evolution of New Forms,” International Journal of Project Management 17(5), 275–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glaser, B. G. and A. L. Strauss. (1967). The Discovery of Grounded Theory: Strategies for Qualitative Research. Aldine de Gruyter: New York..

    Google Scholar 

  • Harmon, M. M. (1990). Applied Phenomenology and Organization. PAQ, pp. 10–17.

  • Ho, T. V., S. Ang, and D. Straub. (2003). “When Subordinates Become IT contractors: Persistent Managerial Expectations in IT Outsourcing,” Information Systems Research 14(1), 66–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarvenpaa, S. and D. Leidner. (1999). “Communication and Trust in Global Virtual Teams,” Organizational Science 10(6), 791–815.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kern, T. and L. Willcocks. (2002). “Exploring Relationships in Information Technology Outsourcing: The Interaction Approach,” European Journal of Information Systems 11, 3–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein, H. K. and Michael D. Myers. (1999) “A Set of Principles for Conducting and Evaluating Interpretive Field Studies in Information Systems,” MIS Quarterly, Special Issue on Intensive Research 23(1), 67–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knoll, K. and S. L. Jarvenpaa. (1998). “Working Together in Global Virtual Teams,” in: M. Igbaria and M. Tan (eds.), The Virtual Workplace (pp. 2–23). Hershey, USA: IDEA Group.

  • Kownlar, S. (2004). “Collaborative Commerce,” ACM Ubiquity. Retrieved February 23 2004. http://www.acm.org/ubiquity/views/s_kownslar_1.html.

  • Kock, N. (2001). “Compensatory Adaptation to a Lean Medium: An Action Research Investigation of Electronic Communication in Process Improvement Groups,” IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. New York: 44(4), 267–285.

  • Krauss, R. M. and S. R. Fussell. (1990). “Mutual Knowledge and Communicative Effectiveness,” in: J. Galegher, R. E. Kraut and C. Egido (eds.), Intellectual Teamwork: Social and Technological Foundations of Cooperative Work. Hillsdale, New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, F., D. Vogel, and M. Limayem. (2003). “Virtual Community Informatics: A Review and Research Agenda,” Journal of Information Technology Theory and Application (JITTA) 5(1), 47–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lipnack, J. and J. Stamps. (1997). Virtual Teams: Reaching Across Space, Time and Organizations with Technology. John Wiley and Sons.

  • Meadows, C. J. (1996). “Globalizing Software Development,” Journal of Global Information Management 4(1), 5–14.

    MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Nunamaker, J., A. Dennis, J. Valacich, and D. Vogel, (1991). “Information Technology for Negotiating Groups: Generating Options for Mutual Gain,” Management Science 37(10), 1325–1346.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Orlikowski, J. W., J. Yates, K. Okamura, and M. Fujimoto, (1995). “Shaping Electronic Communication: The Metastructuring of Technology Context of Use,” Organization Science 6(4), 423–444.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paré, Guy and Dubé, Line. (1999). “Virtual Teams: An Exploratory Study of Key Challenges and Strategies,” Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Information Systems, pp. 479–483.

  • Pereira, K. A. A., J. Rabelo, R. Ferreira, C. Aureo, and S. M. Luiz. (2001). “Managing Distributed Business Processes in the Virtual Enterprise,” Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing 12(2), 185–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perin, C. (1991). “Electronic Social Fields in Bureaucracies,” Communications of the ACM 34(12), 75–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powell A., G. Piccoli, and B. Ives. (2004). “Virtual Teams: A Review of Current Literature and Directions for Future Research,” The DATA BASE for Advances in Information Systems 35(1), 6–36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Qureshi, S. (1998). “Supporting a Network Way of Working on an Electronic Social Space,” Group Decision and Negotiation 7, 399–416.

  • Qureshi S. and D. Vogel. (2001). “Organizational Adaptiveness in Virtual Teams,” Group Decision and Negotiation 10(1), 27–46.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rutkowski, A. F., D. R. Vogel, M. van Genuchten, T. Bemelmans, and M. Favier. (2002). “E-collaboration: The reality of Virtuality,” IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication. New York: 45(4), p. 219.

  • Robey D., H. M. Khoo, and C. Powers. (2000). “Situated Learning in Cross Functional Virtual Teams,” IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication 42(1), 51–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarker, S. and S. Sahay. (2003). “Understanding Virtual Team Development: An Interpretive Study,” Journal of Association for Information Systems 4, 1–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, C., C. Van Slyke, and D. Vogel. (2004). “My Time or Yours? Managing Time Visions in Global Virtual Teams,” Academy of Management Executive 18(1), 19–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schrage, M. (1990). Shared Minds: The New Technologies of Collaboration. New York. Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, A. and J. Corbin. (1998). Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory. Thousand Oaks, London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tractinsky, N. and L. S. Jarvenpaa. (1995). “Information Systems Design Decisions in a Global Versus Domestic Context,” MIS Quarterly 4, 507–534.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsham, G. (1995). “The Emergence of Intrepretivism in IS Research,” Information Systems Research 6(4), 376–394.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, M. B. F., S. Narasimhan, and H. S. Rhee, (1998). “Communication and Coordination in the Virtual Office,” Journal of Management Information Systems 14(4), 17–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willcocks, P. Leslie and Plant, Robert. (2003) “How Corporations E-Source: From Business Technology Projects to Value Networks,” Information Systems Frontiers 5(2), 175–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weick, K. E. (2001). Making Sense of the Organization. Oxford: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zigurs, I. and S. Qureshi. (2001). “Managing the Extended Enterprise, Creating Value from Virtual Spaces,” in: G. Dickson and G. DeSanctis (eds.), Information Technology and the Future Enterprise: New Models for Managers. Prentice Hall, pp. 125–143. ISBN 0130178543.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Information Systems and Quantitative Analysis, College of Information Science & Technology, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A.

    Sajda Qureshi & Min Liu

  2. Department of Information Systems, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, kowloon, Hong Kong

    Doug Vogel

Authors
  1. Sajda Qureshi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Min Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Doug Vogel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sajda Qureshi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Qureshi, S., Liu, M. & Vogel, D. The Effects of Electronic Collaboration in Distributed Project Management. Group Decis Negot 15, 55–75 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10726-005-9006-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10726-005-9006-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation