Conflict and Performance in Global Virtual Teams.

Author List: Kankanhalli, Atreyi; Tan, Bernard C. Y.; Wei, Kwok-Kee;
Journal of Management Information Systems, 2006, Volume 23, Issue 3, Page 237-274.
Increasing globalization and advances in communication technology have fuelled the emergence of global virtual teams (GVTs). There is much potential for conflict in GVTs as members work across cultural, geographical, and time boundaries. This study examines the antecedents of GVT conflict and the circumstances under which conflict affects team performance. An in-depth study of GVT conflict episodes was carried out using interviews, observations, communication logs, and documents. Based on findings from the teams under study interpreted in the light of prior literature, propositions are developed about the antecedents and effects of GVT conflict as stated. Within GVTs, cultural diversity is likely to contribute to both task and relationship conflict while functional diversity may result in task conflict. Large volumes of electronic communication and lack of immediacy of feedback in asynchronous media can contribute to task conflict. Moreover, the relationship between task conflict and team performance is likely to be contingent upon task complexity and conflict resolution approach. The influence of relationship conflict on performance may depend on task interdependence and conflict resolution approach. The conflict resolution approach may in turn be determined by the nature of conflict attribution. These propositions have been synthesized into a model to guide future empirical research and GVT practice.
Keywords: communication technologies;conflict resolution;conflict types;diversity;global virtual teams;task characteristics;team conflict;team performance
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#66 0.222 conflict management resolution conflicts resolve interpersonal consensus robey strategies interdependence optimistic occur degree diversity resolving agreement 1993 1982 distributed issues
#224 0.159 complexity task environments e-business environment factors technology characteristics literature affect influence role important relationship model organizational contingent actual map dimension
#87 0.128 team teams virtual members communication distributed performance global role task cognition develop technology involved time individual's affects project geographically individuals
#82 0.109 case study studies paper use research analysis interpretive identify qualitative approach understanding critical development managerial elements exploring points positivist presents
#203 0.080 communication media computer-mediated e-mail richness electronic cmc mail medium message performance convergence used communications messages face-to-face findings participants results work
#108 0.063 model research data results study using theoretical influence findings theory support implications test collected tested based empirical empirically context paper
#164 0.061 countries global developing technology international country developed national economic policy domestic study foreign globalization world government nations innovative technological especially
#93 0.051 performance results study impact research influence effects data higher efficiency effect significantly findings impacts empirical significant suggest outcomes better positive