A conceptual framework of virtual team effectiveness from the socio-technical perspective

Abstract

In the era of globalization and technologization, virtual teamwork has become a routine part of professional activity in the software industry and other industries. Understanding virtual team effectiveness helps the management to improve the overall effectiveness of organizations. In this paper, we conduct a literature review of team research to set up a conceptual framework of virtual team effectiveness based on the socio-technical perspective and Inputs-Mediators- Outputs-Inputs model. Our framework includes some salient inputs, mediators and outputs of virtual team life-cycle; specifically, technology readiness and intention to explore are two technical antecedents; team learning and transactive memory system are two social antecedents; and team performance is a socio-technical output representing virtual team effectiveness. After that, a 27-item measuring instrument of aforesaid concepts is proposed after a qualitative survey of 19 virtual team leaders and a quantitative survey of 151 virtual team members from 19 companies locating in Vietnam. The results are references for those interested in improving virtual team effectiveness.