IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/inm/orisre/v19y2008i4p434-455.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Research Note ---A Model of Conflict, Leadership, and Performance in Virtual Teams

Author

Listed:
  • Robin L. Wakefield

    (Hankamer School of Business, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76798)

  • Dorothy E. Leidner

    (Hankamer School of Business, Baylor University, Waco, Texas 76798)

  • Gary Garrison

    (Jack C. Massey Graduate School of Business, Belmont University, 1900 Belmont Boulevard, Nashville, Tennessee 37212)

Abstract

Organizations in many different industries employ virtual teams in a variety of contexts, including research and development, customer support, software development, and product design. Many virtual teams are geographically and culturally dispersed in order to facilitate around-the-clock work and to allow the most qualified individuals to be assigned to a project team. As such dispersion increases, virtual teams tend to experience greater and more diverse conflict compared to co-located teams. Since the dynamics of virtual team leadership are not yet well understood, research that examines how team leaders alleviate threats to team cohesion and provide strategies for conflict resolution makes significant contributions to the literature. Our study uses a survey-based methodology to examine the perceptions of 159 virtual team members employed by a large U.S. telecommunications corporation and five Korean firms involved in construction, finance, business consulting, sales, and distribution. The study integrates the dynamic model of conflict in distributed teams with the behavioral complexity in leadership theory to investigate the roles that virtual team leaders must effectively employ to reduce various forms of virtual team conflict. Our findings indicate that communication technologies are effective in reducing task conflict; however, the team leader may also mitigate task conflict by assuming the role of monitor. Likewise, process conflict may be abated in the virtual team as the leader performs coordinator activities. An effective virtual team leader exhibits specific roles to manage different types of conflict and the leader's response to conflict plays an important part in virtual team success.

Suggested Citation

  • Robin L. Wakefield & Dorothy E. Leidner & Gary Garrison, 2008. "Research Note ---A Model of Conflict, Leadership, and Performance in Virtual Teams," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 19(4), pages 434-455, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:19:y:2008:i:4:p:434-455
    DOI: 10.1287/isre.1070.0149
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/isre.1070.0149
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1287/isre.1070.0149?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kayworth, Timothy & Leidner, Dorothy, 2000. "The global virtual manager: a prescription for success," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 18(2), pages 183-194, April.
    2. Christine Koh & Soon Ang & Detmar W. Straub, 2004. "IT Outsourcing Success: A Psychological Contract Perspective," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 15(4), pages 356-373, December.
    3. Armstrong, J. Scott & Overton, Terry S., 1977. "Estimating Nonresponse Bias in Mail Surveys," MPRA Paper 81694, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. C. Marlene Fiol & Edward J. O'Connor, 2005. "Identification in Face-to-Face, Hybrid, and Pure Virtual Teams: Untangling the Contradictions," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 16(1), pages 19-32, February.
    5. Pamela Hinds & Sara Kiesler, 1995. "Communication across Boundaries: Work, Structure, and Use of Communication Technologies in a Large Organization," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 6(4), pages 373-393, August.
    6. Pamela J. Hinds & Mark Mortensen, 2005. "Understanding Conflict in Geographically Distributed Teams: The Moderating Effects of Shared Identity, Shared Context, and Spontaneous Communication," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 16(3), pages 290-307, June.
    7. Robert G. Fichman & Chris F. Kemerer, 1997. "The Assimilation of Software Process Innovations: An Organizational Learning Perspective," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 43(10), pages 1345-1363, October.
    8. Wanda J. Orlikowski, 2000. "Using Technology and Constituting Structures: A Practice Lens for Studying Technology in Organizations," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 11(4), pages 404-428, August.
    9. D. H. Drury & A. Farhoomand, 1999. "Innovation Diffusion And Implementation," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 3(02), pages 133-157.
    10. Pamela J. Hinds & Diane E. Bailey, 2003. "Out of Sight, Out of Sync: Understanding Conflict in Distributed Teams," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(6), pages 615-632, December.
    11. Wynne W. Chin & Barbara L. Marcolin & Peter R. Newsted, 2003. "A Partial Least Squares Latent Variable Modeling Approach for Measuring Interaction Effects: Results from a Monte Carlo Simulation Study and an Electronic-Mail Emotion/Adoption Study," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 14(2), pages 189-217, June.
    12. Daniel R. Denison & Robert Hooijberg & Robert E. Quinn, 1995. "Paradox and Performance: Toward a Theory of Behavioral Complexity in Managerial Leadership," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 6(5), pages 524-540, October.
    13. Catherine Durnell Cramton, 2001. "The Mutual Knowledge Problem and Its Consequences for Dispersed Collaboration," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 12(3), pages 346-371, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Gonzalez, George C. & Sharma, Pratyush N. & Galletta, Dennis F., 2012. "The antecedents of the use of continuous auditing in the internal auditing context," International Journal of Accounting Information Systems, Elsevier, vol. 13(3), pages 248-262.
    2. Darshna V. Banker & Shamita Garg & Mohita Maggon, 2023. "Virtual Leadership: Bibliometrics, Framework-Based Systematic Review, and Future Agenda," South Asian Journal of Business and Management Cases, , vol. 12(3), pages 300-332, December.
    3. Hung, Shiu-Wan & Cheng, Min-Jhih & Hou, Chen-En & Chen, Nai-Rong, 2021. "Inclusion in global virtual teams: Exploring non-spatial proximity and knowledge sharing on innovation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 599-610.
    4. Cumiks Aleksejs & Romanovs Andrejs, 2012. "The Analysis and Modelling of Social Networks: Leader Identification and Information Dissemination," Information Technology and Management Science, Sciendo, vol. 15(1), pages 127-133, December.
    5. repec:ipg:wpaper:2014-201 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Donate, Mario J. & González-Mohíno, Miguel & Paolo Appio, Francesco & Bernhard, Fabian, 2022. "Dealing with knowledge hiding to improve innovation capabilities in the hotel industry: The unconventional role of knowledge-oriented leadership," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 572-586.
    7. Shavindrie Cooray & Donna Champion, 2023. "A systems approach to enabling student‐led critical discussion," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(3), pages 429-436, May.
    8. Davaei, Mahboobeh & Gunkel, Marjaana & Veglio, Valerio & Taras, Vas, 2022. "The influence of cultural intelligence and emotional intelligence on conflict occurrence and performance in global virtual teams," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(4).
    9. Marlow, Shannon L. & Lacerenza, Christina N. & Paoletti, Jensine & Burke, C. Shawn & Salas, Eduardo, 2018. "Does team communication represent a one-size-fits-all approach?: A meta-analysis of team communication and performance," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 145-170.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Azusa Ebisuya & Tomoki Sekiguchi & Gayan Prasad Hettiarachchi, 2023. "Narrowing the communication gap in internationally distributed teams: the case of software-development teams in Sri Lanka and Japan," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 22(1), pages 354-378, February.
    2. Raymond F. Zammuto & Terri L. Griffith & Ann Majchrzak & Deborah J. Dougherty & Samer Faraj, 2007. "Information Technology and the Changing Fabric of Organization," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 18(5), pages 749-762, October.
    3. Jackowska, Marta & Lauring, Jakob, 2021. "What are the effects of working away from the workplace compared to using technology while being at the workplace? Assessing work context and personal context in a global virtual setting," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1).
    4. Vahtera, Pekka & Buckley, Peter & Aliyev, Murod, 2017. "Affective conflict and identification of knowledge sources in MNE teams," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(5), pages 881-895.
    5. Michael Boyer O'Leary & Mark Mortensen, 2010. "Go (Con)figure: Subgroups, Imbalance, and Isolates in Geographically Dispersed Teams," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 21(1), pages 115-131, February.
    6. Pamela J. Hinds & Diane E. Bailey, 2003. "Out of Sight, Out of Sync: Understanding Conflict in Distributed Teams," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(6), pages 615-632, December.
    7. Daniel Tzabbar & Alex Vestal, 2015. "Bridging the Social Chasm in Geographically Distributed R&D Teams: The Moderating Effects of Relational Strength and Status Asymmetry on the Novelty of Team Innovation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(3), pages 811-829, June.
    8. Niina Nurmi & Pamela J Hinds, 2016. "Job complexity and learning opportunities: A silver lining in the design of global virtual work," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(6), pages 631-654, August.
    9. Isabell M. Welpe & Andranik Tumasjan & Maria Strobel, 2010. "Construal Level Theory–Eine Theorie für die grenzenlose Unternehmung?," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 62(62), pages 84-105, January.
    10. Matt Beane & Wanda J. Orlikowski, 2015. "What Difference Does a Robot Make? The Material Enactment of Distributed Coordination," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(6), pages 1553-1573, December.
    11. Ma, Danni & Fee, Anthony & Grabowski, Simone & Scerri, Moira, 2022. "Dual Organizational Identification in Multinational Enterprises and Interpersonal Horizontal Knowledge Sharing: A Conceptual Model," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(1).
    12. Sidhu, Jatinder S. & Volberda, Henk W., 2011. "Coordination of globally distributed teams: A co-evolution perspective on offshoring," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 278-290, June.
    13. Eric Overby, 2008. "Process Virtualization Theory and the Impact of Information Technology," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 19(2), pages 277-291, April.
    14. Jeanne Wilson & C. Brad Crisp & Mark Mortensen, 2013. "Extending Construal-Level Theory to Distributed Groups: Understanding the Effects of Virtuality," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(2), pages 629-644, April.
    15. Lionel P. Robert Jr & Alan R. Dennis & Manju K. Ahuja, 2018. "Differences are Different: Examining the Effects of Communication Media on the Impacts of Racial and Gender Diversity in Decision-Making Teams," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 29(3), pages 525-545, September.
    16. Jaime B. Windeler & Likoebe Maruping & Viswanath Venkatesh, 2017. "Technical Systems Development Risk Factors: The Role of Empowering Leadership in Lowering Developers’ Stress," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 28(4), pages 775-796, December.
    17. Sarah Morrison-Smith & Christina Boucher & Aleksandra Sarcevic & Noelle Noyes & Catherine O’Brien & Nazaret Cuadros & Jaime Ruiz, 2022. "Challenges in large-scale bioinformatics projects," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
    18. Cristina B. Gibson & Jennifer L. Gibbs & Taryn L. Stanko & Paul Tesluk & Susan G. Cohen, 2011. "Including the “I” in Virtuality and Modern Job Design: Extending the Job Characteristics Model to Include the Moderating Effect of Individual Experiences of Electronic Dependence and Copresence," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(6), pages 1481-1499, December.
    19. Peng, Zeyu & Sun, Yongqiang & Guo, Xitong, 2018. "Antecedents of employees’ extended use of enterprise systems: An integrative view of person, environment, and technology," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 104-120.
    20. Hill, N. Sharon & Bartol, Kathryn M. & Tesluk, Paul E. & Langa, Gosia A., 2009. "Organizational context and face-to-face interaction: Influences on the development of trust and collaborative behaviors in computer-mediated groups," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 108(2), pages 187-201, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:inm:orisre:v:19:y:2008:i:4:p:434-455. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Asher (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://edirc.repec.org/data/inforea.html .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.