The effect of collaborative technologies on team effectiveness in global virtual teams
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School of Business |
Master's thesis
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Date
2024
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Mcode
Degree programme
mib
Language
en
Pages
81+2
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Abstract
Following the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic – when necessity dictated organizations to figure out ways of supporting fully virtual teams – and accounting for the hyper competitive and fluid work environment, organizations across the world are increasingly implementing Global Virtual Teams (GVTs). However, since this societal shift occurred within a short time frame, many of the processes surrounding virtual work in organizations have been hastily implemented. This thesis aims to understand the effects of collaborative technologies (i.e. electronic tools that are used by members of teams to communicate, coordinate activities, and execute tasks) on GVT effectiveness. Its main objective is to understand how collaborative technologies influence the effectiveness of GVTs, and how contemporary and future technologies can help support the needs of virtual teams. The research methodology employed seven (7) semi-structured interviews with individuals who had experience working in GVTs. Each individual had worked in a different team from the others, creating a representative sample of the young professional in a Nordic landscape. Thematic analysis was used to identify and discuss the key themes that arose from the collected interview data. The findings of the study suggest that 1) collaborative technologies impact both process and socio-emotional team tasks, affecting team effectiveness holistically, 2) the processes and guidelines surrounding collaborative technology are important, 3) group awareness must be systematically maintained, on both the individual and team level, through deliberate technology use, and 4) elements of shared leadership may emerge owing to the process efficiencies of GVTs, and these should be both explicitly and behaviourally managed. The study suggests that organizations should carefully consider the needs of their GVTs when considering which technologies to implement, as they seem to have a holistic effect on team effectiveness. Furthermore, teams should be given clear guidance on the use of any collaborative technologies, while giving them time to enact change management. This thesis contributes to the growing body of literature on the effectiveness of GVTs, offering practical implications for the designing of effective collaborative technologies and their use in organizations.Description
Thesis advisor
Pälli, PekkaKeywords
global virtual teams, team effectiveness, collaborative technologies, information and communication technologies