IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/grdene/v15y2006i4d10.1007_s10726-006-9042-x.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Effects of Cultural Diversity in Virtual Teams Versus Face-to-Face Teams

Author

Listed:
  • D. Sandy Staples

    (Queen's University)

  • Lina Zhao

    (Queen's University)

Abstract

Diversity in the national background and culture of team members is common in virtual teams. An experimental study, with short term teams, was undertaken to examine the effect of cultural diversity on team effectiveness and to examine if this effect changes depending if the team worked face-to-face (F2F) or virtually. Heterogeneous teams were created that had greater diversity than homogeneous teams of individualism/collectivism values, different languages spoken, country of birth, and nationality. The teams worked on a desert survival task either F2F or virtually (via audioconference and electronic chat tools). The overall results indicated that heterogeneous teams were less satisfied and cohesive and had more conflict than the homogeneous teams, although there were no statistical differences in team performance levels. However, examining just the heterogeneous teams found that the performance of the virtual heterogeneous teams was superior to that of the F2F heterogeneous teams. The results support Carte and Chidambaram's (2004) theory that the reductive capabilities of collaborative technologies are beneficial for newly-formed diverse teams.

Suggested Citation

  • D. Sandy Staples & Lina Zhao, 2006. "The Effects of Cultural Diversity in Virtual Teams Versus Face-to-Face Teams," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 389-406, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:grdene:v:15:y:2006:i:4:d:10.1007_s10726-006-9042-x
    DOI: 10.1007/s10726-006-9042-x
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10726-006-9042-x
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10726-006-9042-x?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
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    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. Baltes, Boris B. & Dickson, Marcus W. & Sherman, Michael P. & Bauer, Cara C. & LaGanke, Jacqueline S., 2002. "Computer-Mediated Communication and Group Decision Making: A Meta-Analysis," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 87(1), pages 156-179, January.
    3. Geert Hofstede, 1983. "The Cultural Relativity of Organizational Practices and Theories," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 14(2), pages 75-89, 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. Eisenberg, Julia & Mattarelli, Elisa, 2017. "Building Bridges in Global Virtual Teams: The Role of Multicultural Brokers in Overcoming the Negative Effects of Identity Threats on Knowledge Sharing Across Subgroups," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 399-411.
    2. Elena Cizmaș & Emőke-Szidónia Feder & Mădălina-Dumitrița Maticiuc & Silvia Vlad-Anghel, 2020. "Team Management, Diversity, and Performance as Key Influencing Factors of Organizational Sustainable Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-33, September.
    3. Odubiyi Tawakalitu Bisola & Oke Ayodeji Emmanuel, 2016. "Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of virtual team in Nigerian construction industry," Organization, Technology and Management in Construction, Sciendo, vol. 8(1), pages 1422-1428, December.
    4. W. Quin Yow & Tony Zhao Ming Lim, 2019. "Sharing the same languages helps us work better together," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Raphael Lissillour & Jean Michel Sahut, 2023. "Uses of Information Systems to Develop Trust in Family Firms," Business & Information Systems Engineering: The International Journal of WIRTSCHAFTSINFORMATIK, Springer;Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI), vol. 65(2), pages 127-141, April.
    6. Ingmar Geiger, 2020. "From Letter to Twitter: A Systematic Review of Communication Media in Negotiation," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 29(2), pages 207-250, April.
    7. 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.
    8. Shafia, Mohammad Ali & Ale Ebrahim, Nader & Ahmed, Shamsuddin & Taha, Zahari, 2009. "Innovation Process is Facilitated in Virtual Environment of R&D Teams," MPRA Paper 27264, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 20 May 2009.
    9. Boyer O’Leary, Michael & Wilson, Jeanne M. & Metiu, Anca, 2011. "Beyond Being There: The Symbolic Role of Communication and Identification in the Emergence of Perceived Proximity in Geographically Dispersed Work," ESSEC Working Papers WP1112, ESSEC Research Center, ESSEC Business School.
    10. Gresse, Christopher & Slowak, André P., 2008. "New Knowledge in Global Innovation Teams," MPRA Paper 20092, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    11. Clampit, Jack & Kedia, Ben & Fabian, Frances & Gaffney, Nolan, 2015. "Offshoring satisfaction: The role of partnership credibility and cultural complementarity," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 50(1), pages 79-93.
    12. Ale Ebrahim, Nader & Ahmed, Shamsuddin & Taha, Zahari, 2009. "Innovation and R&D Activities in Virtual Team," MPRA Paper 27033, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 17 Jul 0209.
    13. Bruce A. Reinig & Ira Horowitz & G. E. Whittenburg, 2011. "A Longitudinal Analysis of Satisfaction with Group Work," Group Decision and Negotiation, Springer, vol. 20(2), pages 215-237, March.
    14. Sherae Daniel & Ritu Agarwal & Katherine J. Stewart, 2013. "The Effects of Diversity in Global, Distributed Collectives: A Study of Open Source Project Success," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 24(2), pages 312-333, June.
    15. Jolanta Maj & Aneta Hamza-Orlinska, 2024. "Exploring Inclusion in the Remote Startup Landscape: A Case Study Analysis," Central European Business Review, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2024(4), pages 1-19.
    16. Fasanmi, Samuel Sunday & Ogunyemi, A.O., 2018. "Relationship between Social Networking Platforms and Performance of Virtual Teams in Nigeria Telecomunnication Industry," International Journal of Psychological Studies, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 10(1), pages 1-30, March.
    17. Blanes I Vidal, Jordi, 2020. "Face-to-face communication in organizations," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 106580, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    18. Nader Ale Ebrahim & Shamsuddin Ahmed & Zahari Taha, 2009. "Virtual R & D teams in small and medium enterprises: A literature review," Post-Print hal-00593358, HAL.
    19. Giambatista, Robert C. & Bhappu, Anita D., 2010. "Diversity's harvest: Interactions of diversity sources and communication technology on creative group performance," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 111(2), pages 116-126, March.
    20. Richter, Nicole Franziska & Martin, Jonathan & Hansen, Sofie V. & Taras, Vasyl & Alon, Ilan, 2021. "Motivational configurations of cultural intelligence, social integration, and performance in global virtual teams," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 351-367.
    21. Ale Ebrahim, Nader & Ahmed, Shamsuddin & Taha, Zahari, 2008. "Virtuality, Innovation and R&D Activities," MPRA Paper 27267, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 12 Apr 2009.
    22. Lin Chien Chiang, 2016. "Utilizing Virtual Team: Lessons Learned from MMORPGs Players," Journal of Business Administration Research, Journal of Business Administration Research, Sciedu Press, vol. 5(1), pages 42-53, April.
    23. Xiaowen Guan & Hye Eun Lee, 2022. "Does Culture Really Matter? A Comparison Between Victims’ Cognitive and Communicative Responses to Cultural In-Group Versus Out-Group Perpetrators in Social Predicaments," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(1), pages 21582440221, March.

    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. 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.
    2. Meløn, Mønica García & Aragonés Beltran, Pablo & Carmen González Cruz, M., 2008. "An AHP-based evaluation procedure for Innovative Educational Projects: A face-to-face vs. computer-mediated case study," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 754-765, October.
    3. Wang, Daojuan & Hain, Daniel S. & Larimo, Jorma & Dao, Li T., 2020. "Cultural differences and synergy realization in cross-border acquisitions," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(3).
    4. María Victoria Uribe‐Bohorquez & Jennifer Martínez‐Ferrero & Isabel‐María García‐Sánchez, 2019. "Women on boards and efficiency in a business‐orientated environment," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(1), pages 82-96, January.
    5. Peter JANSEN & Gabriel Viorel RAITA, 2021. "Macro-Level Determinants of Board Effectiveness in UK and Romanian Listed Companies: A Conceptual Approach," CECCAR Business Review, Body of Expert and Licensed Accountants of Romania (CECCAR), vol. 2(10), pages 60-72, October.
    6. Galil, Koresh & Varon, Eva, 2024. "National culture and banks stock volatility," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    7. Oleksiuk Adam & Pleśniak Agnieszka, 2022. "Environment Characteristics and Internationalization of SMEs: Insights from a Polish and Finnish Sample," Journal of Management and Business Administration. Central Europe, Sciendo, vol. 30(3), pages 175-194, September.
    8. Zur, Andrew & Leckie, Civilai & Webster, Cynthia M., 2012. "Cognitive and affective trust between Australian exporters and their overseas buyers," Australasian marketing journal, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 73-79.
    9. Mitzi Cubilla‐Montilla & Ana‐Belén Nieto‐Librero & Ma Purificación Galindo‐Villardón & Ma Purificación Vicente Galindo & Isabel‐María Garcia‐Sanchez, 2019. "Are cultural values sufficient to improve stakeholder engagement human and labour rights issues?," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(4), pages 938-955, July.
    10. Stephen Guisinger, 2001. "From OLI to OLMA: Incorporating Higher Levels of Environmental and Structural Complexity into the Eclectic Paradigm," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(2), pages 257-272.
    11. MILIJEVIC Srdjan & SKLAVOUNOS Nikolaos & ROTSIOS Konstantinos, 2020. "Consumers' Purchase Intentions Towards Novel Dairy Products: Evidence From Greece And Serbia," Studies in Business and Economics, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 15(3), pages 152-167, December.
    12. Laura Maria Ferri & Nelly Oelze & André Habisch & Mario Molteni, 2016. "Implementation of responsible Procurement Management: An Institutional Perspective," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(4), pages 261-276, May.
    13. Bernhard Fietz & Julia Hillmann & Edeltraud Guenther, 2021. "Cultural Effects on Organizational Resilience: Evidence from the NAFTA Region," Schmalenbach Journal of Business Research, Springer, vol. 73(1), pages 5-46, March.
    14. Chow, Chee W. & Kato, Yutaka & Merchant, Kenneth A., 1996. "The use of organizational controls and their effects on data manipulation and management myopia: A Japan vs U.S. comparison," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 21(2-3), pages 175-192.
    15. Juan Antonio Moreno-Murcia & Elisa Huéscar Hernández & Luís Cid & Diogo Monteiro & Filipe Rodrigues & Diogo Teixeira & Jeanette M. López-Walle & Argenis Vergara-Torres & José Tristan & Gabriel Gastélu, 2020. "Assessing the Relationship between Autonomy Support and Student Group Cohesion across Ibero-American Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-12, June.
    16. Jae C. Jung & Paul W. Beamish & Anthony Goerzen, 2008. "FDI Ownership Strategy: A Japanese-US MNE Comparison," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 48(5), pages 491-524, November.
    17. Giovanna Magnani & Antonella Zucchella & Dinorà Eliete Floriani, 2015. "Relativity and asymmetry in distance. The role of strategic distance in the internationalization decisions of Brazilian and Italian firms," DEM Working Papers Series 111, University of Pavia, Department of Economics and Management.
    18. Alexis Roche, 2016. "Influence Of The Size Organizations On Recognition Expectations In Small Organizations," Post-Print hal-01357036, HAL.
    19. Ashok K. Lalwani & Lura Forcum, 2016. "Does a Dollar Get You a Dollar’s Worth of Merchandise? The Impact of Power Distance Belief on Price-Quality Judgments," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 43(2), pages 317-333.
    20. Eddy Ng & Ronald Burke, 2010. "Predictor of Business Students’ Attitudes Toward Sustainable Business Practices," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 95(4), pages 603-615, September.

    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:spr:grdene:v:15:y:2006:i:4:d:10.1007_s10726-006-9042-x. 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: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    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.