Creating a Better Workplace for Global Virtual Teams: The Influence of the “Strongest Link”

Abstract

In virtual spaces, misunderstandings in communication are common due to a lack of non-verbal cues or imprecise language. Utilizing a sample of 3578 participants in 755 global virtual teams (GVTs), we studied the links between the maximum cultural intelligence (MaxCQ) score, team communication frequency and conflict frequency as important elements of the GVTs environment. We also tested for their ultimate effects on GVT process performance via team satisfaction. We utilize the conceptualization of MaxCQ as a “strongest link in the team” argument (Brownell et al, 2021) to explain how it works; namely, via MaxCQ’s effect on reducing conflict frequency during a GVT project. We also found evidence that increased communication decreased conflict frequency leading to positive team satisfaction effects. The results suggest that staffing GVTs with individuals scoring high on CQ and increasing team communication frequency overall can lead to better team processes and result in overall team satisfaction. We found no evidence of MaxCQ affecting communication frequency. This supports the notion that future research should concentrate on communication quality instead of frequency, which might show a relationship between these two variables.