Vital Signs for Virtual Teams: An Empirically Developed Trigger Model for Technology Adaptation Interventions

2010 | Management Information Systems Quarterly | Citations: 28

Authors: Thomas, Dominic M.; Bostrom, Robert P.

Abstract: This study explores how team leaders sense the need for technology adaptation in ... Expand

Abstract: This study explores how team leaders sense the need for technology adaptation intervention in distributed, computer-mediated ("virtual") teams. Analysis and coding of critical incident data collected in interviews of practicing leaders produce a five-trigger model including (1) external constraint, (2) internal constraint, (3) information and communication technology (ICT) inadequacy, (4) ICT knowledge, skills, and abilities inadequacy, and (5) trust and relationship inadequacies. The resulting five-trigger model provides several key contributions including (1) a diagnostic tool for examining real, multi-trigger team technology adaptation contexts, enabling better leader training and evaluation as well as improved research on team technology adaptation and interventions and (2) a better understanding of the relationship between the technology structure strength indicators in adaptive structuration theory and the need for team technology adaptation intervention. Collapse

Topics: virtual teamwork IT project information system use electronic mail project management

Methods: qualitative interview qualitative coding qualitative content analysis chi squared test field study

Theories: big five model information systems theory channel expansion theory structuration theory adaptive structuration theory