An Inductively Derived Model of Leader-Initiated Relationship Building with Virtual Team Members.

Author List: PAULEEN, DAVID J.;
Journal of Management Information Systems, 2003, Volume 20, Issue 3, Page 227-256.
This paper seeks to add to the nascent research literature on virtual teams and virtual team leadership by investigating the issues facing virtual team leaders as they implement and lead virtual teams. In particular, the way in which leaders develop relationships with their virtual team members is explored. A research framework involving action learning was instituted, with data collection and analysis based on grounded theory approaches. In all, seven virtual team leaders from a variety of New Zealand organizations took part in the study. The data showed very clearly that the leaders considered it essential to build some level of personal relationship with their virtual team members before commencing a virtual working relationship. A unifying framework of three interrelated theoretical steps, which illustrates how a virtual leader builds relationships with virtual team members, is introduced. These three steps are assessing conditions, targeting level of relationship, and creating strategies. This study is the first to identify the steps a virtual team leader undertakes when building relationships with virtual team members. The implications for virtual team practice and research are discussed.
Keywords: action learning; grounded theory; information technology in team building; leadership; relationship building; trust; virtual teams
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#87 0.287 team teams virtual members communication distributed performance global role task cognition develop technology involved time individual's affects project geographically individuals
#25 0.140 relationships relationship relational information interfirm level exchange relations perspective model paper interpersonal expertise theory study effects literature role social identify
#104 0.083 action research engagement principles model literature actions focus provides developed process emerging establish field build guidance known project elements insights
#125 0.082 framework model used conceptual proposed given particular general concept frameworks literature developed develop providing paper developing guidelines concepts appropriate set
#2 0.080 leadership leaders effective leader roles authority assume slow responsibility structure recognize responsibilities look size inevitable attain trend held articulate dominate
#127 0.079 systems information research theory implications practice discussed findings field paper practitioners role general important key grounded researchers domain new identified
#145 0.066 differences analysis different similar study findings based significant highly groups popular samples comparison similarities non-is variety reveals imitation versus suggests
#126 0.063 data database administration important dictionary organizations activities record increasingly method collection records considered perturbation requirements special level efforts administrators analyzed
#83 0.051 personal computers use lead order using users pcs innovativeness understanding professional help forces gained usage increase trends parallel introduced expressed