Advances in Highly Virtual Teams:Key Composition, Leadership, and Shared Process Components

Abstract

Although the notion of virtual as applied to teams is increasingly viewed as a continuum, teams characterized by high virtuality continue to constitute a special challenge. While such teams offer many advantages, such as allowing the assembling of the best expertise regardless of geographical location and allowing the handoff of work across multiple time zones, evidence indicates that highly virtual teams are susceptible to significant process losses that can undermine their sizable advantages. The overall purpose of this symposium is to present research that points to key advances in understanding how critical compositional and leadership components may affect highly virtual team processes and effectiveness and to stimulate audience thinking in critical new directions. Specifically, the papers in the symposium point to critical compositional and leadership components that can positively influence important shared processes, such as knowledge sharing and shared leadership, and ultimately impact the effectiveness of highly virtual teams. The papers provide both unique and important extensions to existing research and theory regarding the challenges of designing effective highly virtual teams, while also providing important and needed guidance to managers seeking to harness the vast potential of highly virtual teams.Leading from Afar: Directive vs. Empowering Leadership in Virtual TeamsPresenter: Elizabeth Margaret Campbell-Bush; U. of MarylandPresenter: Kathryn M. Bartol; U. of Maryland, College ParkPresenter: Michael R. Parke; U. of MarylandKnowledge Sharing in Global Virtual Teams: Effects on Performance and the Role of Team FamiliarityPresenter: Travis Maynard; Colorado State U.Presenter: Lucy L. Gilson; U. of ConnecticutLeading Distributed Teams: The Influence of Composition and Virtual ToolsPresenter: Marissa Shuffler; Institute for Simulation & Training, UCFPresenter: Shawn Burke; U. of Central FloridaPresenter: Stephen Fiore; U. of Central FloridaStructural Supports, Kickoff-meetings, and Shared Leadership in Virtual TeamsPresenter: Julia E. Hoch; Michigan State U.Presenter: Steve W. J. Kozlowski; Michigan State U.Presenter: James Hamilton Dulebohn; Michigan State U.Emergent Leadership Network Structures in Global Virtual Teams: Impact on Innovation Presenter: Dorothy R Carter; Georgia Institute of TechnologyPresenter: Leslie A. DeChurch; Georgia Institute of TechnologyPresenter: Stephen J. Zaccaro; George Mason U.