Effective Virtual Project Teams (eBook)

Foreword 7
Contents 8
About the Authors 12
1: Introduction and Field Problem Concerning Virtual Project Teams 13
1.1 Introduction 13
1.2 Design Science 14
1.3 Design Science Research 15
1.3.1 Design Propositions 16
1.4 Design Science Research Cycle 17
1.5 Field Problems in the Domain of Virtual Project Teams 19
1.5.1 Choice of the Field Problem 19
1.5.1.1 Domain of the Field Problem 19
1.5.1.2 Field Problem in Virtual Project Teams 22
References 25
2: Strategic Momentum 28
2.1 Introduction 28
2.2 Strategic Momentum 30
2.2.1 History of the Concept of Momentum 30
2.2.2 The Origins of the Concept of Momentum 32
2.2.3 Strategic Momentum in the Academic Management Literature 33
2.2.4 Strategic Momentum in Virtual Project Teams 36
2.2.5 Measuring Strategic Momentum 36
2.2.6 A Special Case of Momentum: Team Flow 38
2.3 Solution Concept 41
2.4 Research Questions 45
References 46
3: Virtual Project Teams and Their Effectiveness 49
3.1 Introduction 49
3.2 Team Definitions 49
3.3 What Is the Effectiveness of Virtual Teams? 50
3.4 Critical Success Factors for a Virtual Team 51
3.4.1 Team Inputs 51
3.4.1.1 Face-to-Face Kick-Off Meeting 52
3.4.1.2 Team Composition 52
3.4.1.3 Project Description 53
3.4.1.4 Task Characteristics 53
3.4.1.5 Partner Selection 54
3.4.2 Team Processes 55
3.4.2.1 (FTF) Meetings 55
3.4.2.2 (Technical) Knowledge Sharing 56
3.4.2.3 Training 57
3.4.2.4 Decision-Making 57
3.4.2.5 Feedback 58
3.4.2.6 Media Types (Use of Different Types) 58
Computer-Mediated Communication (Electronically Mediated Communication) 58
Intercultural Communication 59
3.4.2.7 Management Style 60
Leadership 60
3.4.2.8 Task Reallocation 61
3.4.2.9 Team Cohesiveness 61
3.4.2.10 Trust 62
Importance of Trust in Virtual Teams 62
Types of Trust in Virtual Teams 62
3.4.2.11 Life Cycle 63
3.4.3 Team Outcomes 65
3.5 Conclusions 65
References 65
4: Searching for Momentum in Virtual Project Teams 69
4.1 Introduction 69
4.2 Dewey Case 70
4.2.1 Project Structure 70
4.2.1.1 Project Management (see Fig. 4.1) 70
4.2.2 Within-Case Analysis: The Emergence and Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 72
4.2.2.1 Emergence of Strategic Momentum 72
4.2.2.2 Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 74
4.2.2.3 Momentum Effects 79
4.2.3 Commentary 80
4.3 GOA Case 81
4.3.1 Project Structure 81
4.3.2 Within-Case Analysis: The Emergence and Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 82
4.3.2.1 Emergence of Strategic Momentum 82
4.3.2.2 Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 84
4.3.2.3 Momentum Effects 90
4.3.3 Commentary 90
4.4 PRINT Case 91
4.4.1 Project Structure 91
4.4.2 Within-Case Analysis: The Emergence and Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 92
4.4.2.1 Emergence of Strategic Momentum 92
4.4.2.2 Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 94
4.4.2.3 Momentum Effects 99
4.4.3 Commentary 100
4.5 Berlin Case 101
4.5.1 Project Structure 101
4.5.2 Within-Case Analysis: The Emergence and Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 104
4.5.2.1 Emergence of Strategic Momentum 104
4.5.2.2 Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 107
4.5.2.3 Momentum Effects 112
4.5.3 Commentary 113
4.6 Paris Case 114
4.6.1 Project Structure 114
4.6.2 Within-Case Analysis: The Emergence and Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 116
4.6.2.1 Emergence of Strategic Momentum 116
4.6.2.2 Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 118
4.6.2.3 Momentum Effects 125
4.6.3 Commentary 125
4.7 Lisbon Case 126
4.7.1 Project Structure 126
4.7.2 Within-Case Analysis: The Emergence and Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 128
4.7.2.1 Emergence of Strategic Momentum 128
4.7.2.2 Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 131
4.7.2.3 Momentum Effects 139
4.7.3 Commentary 139
4.8 Jiaozuo Case 140
4.8.1 Project Structure 140
4.8.2 Within-Case Analysis: The Emergence and Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 141
4.8.2.1 Emergence of Strategic Momentum 141
4.8.2.2 Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 142
4.8.2.3 Momentum Effect 147
4.8.3 Commentary 147
4.9 Groningen Case 147
4.9.1 Project Structure 148
4.9.2 Within-Case Analysis: The Emergence and Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 148
4.9.2.1 Emergence of Strategic Momentum 148
4.9.2.2 Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 149
4.9.2.3 Momentum Effects 159
4.9.3 Commentary 160
4.10 Conclusions 161
Reference 163
5: Emergence and Sustaining of Team Task Insight, Empowerment, Collective Commitment, and Strategic Momentum 164
5.1 Introduction 164
5.2 Emergence and Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 165
5.3 Presentation of the Propositions 165
5.4 Description of the Projects 166
5.4.1 Berlin Case 166
5.4.1.1 Start of the Project 166
5.4.1.2 Approximately Midway Through the Project 167
5.4.1.3 End of the Project 167
5.4.2 Paris Case 167
5.4.2.1 Start of the Project 167
5.4.2.2 Approximately Midway Through the Project 167
5.4.2.3 End of the Project 168
5.4.3 Lisbon Case 168
5.4.3.1 Start of the Project 168
5.4.3.2 Approximately Midway Through the Project 168
5.4.3.3 End of the Project 169
5.4.4 Dewey Case 169
5.4.4.1 Start of the Project 169
5.4.4.2 Approximately Midway Through the Project 169
5.4.4.3 End of the Project 170
5.4.5 PRINT Case 170
5.4.5.1 Start of the Project 170
5.4.5.2 Approximately Midway Through the Project 170
5.4.5.3 End of the Project 171
5.4.6 GOA Case 171
5.4.6.1 Start of the Project 171
5.4.6.2 Approximately Midway Through the Project 171
5.4.6.3 End of the Project 172
5.4.7 Groningen Case 172
5.4.7.1 Start of the Project 172
5.4.7.2 Approximately Midway Through the Project 172
5.4.7.3 End of the Project 172
5.4.8 Jiaozuo Case 173
5.4.8.1 Start of the Project 173
5.4.8.2 Approximately Midway Through the Project 173
5.4.8.3 End of the Project 173
5.5 Relation Between Team Task Insight, Empowerment, and Collective Commitment 173
5.5.1 Emergence of Strategic Momentum at the Start of the Project 175
5.5.1.1 TTI, E, and CC and Their Impact on the Effective Component of Strategic Momentum at the Start of the Project 175
5.5.1.2 TTI, E, and CC and Their Impact on the Actual Strategic Momentum at the Start of the Project 175
5.5.1.3 Overall Conclusions Regarding the Emergence of Strategic Momentum at the Start of the Project 176
5.5.2 Sustaining of Strategic Momentum 176
5.5.2.1 TTI, E, and CC and Their Impact on the Sustaining of Strategic Momentum Approximately Midway Through the Project 176
5.5.2.2 TTI, E, and CC and Their Impact on the Sustaining of Strategic Momentum at the End of the Project 177
5.6 Conclusions Concerning the Third Research Question 178
5.7 Design Proposition 178
5.8 Emergence and Sustaining of Team Task Insight, Empowerment, and Collective Commitment 179
5.9 Creation of Team Task Insight, Empowerment, and Collective Commitment 180
5.9.1 Team Task Insight 180
5.9.1.1 Analyses of Starting Conditions and Management Interventions Leading to the Creation of Team Task Insight 188
5.9.2 Empowerment 189
5.9.2.1 Starting Conditions and Management Interventions Leading to the Creation of Empowerment 193
5.9.3 Collective Commitment 193
5.9.3.1 Starting Conditions and Management Interventions Leading to the Creation of Collective Commitment 199
5.10 Sustaining Team Task Insight, Empowerment, and Collective Commitment 199
5.10.1 Team Task Insight 199
5.10.1.1 Starting Conditions and Management Interventions Leading to the Sustaining of Team Task Insight 206
5.10.2 Empowerment 206
5.10.2.1 Starting Conditions and Management Interventions Leading to the Sustaining of Empowerment 209
5.10.3 Collective Commitment 209
5.10.3.1 Starting Conditions and Management Interventions Leading to the Sustaining of Collective Commitment 214
5.11 Conclusions Concerning the Research Question 214
5.12 Design Proposition 216
References 221
6: Value for Practice 222
6.1 Conclusions 222
6.1.1 Research Questions and Answers 222
6.1.2 Conclusions Concerning Strategic Momentum 225
6.2 Practical Implications 225
Appendix: Crisp Set QCA Procedure 229
A.1 Introduction 229
A.2 The Five-Step csQCA Procedure 229
A.2.1 Step 1: Building a Dichotomous Input Table 231
A.2.2 Step 2: Constructing a Truth Table 231
A.2.3 Step 3: Resolving Contradictory Configurations 233
A.2.4 Step 4: Boolean Minimisation (Determining the Causal Model) 234
The Complex Solution 234
The Parsimonious (or Minimal) Solution 235
The Intermediate Solution 239
A.2.5 Step 5: Interpretation 242
References 242
Index 243