Abstract
A series of experiments investigated creativity and quality of work-product solutions in virtual teams (Ocker, forthcoming; Ocker, 2005; Ocker & Fjermestad, 1998; Ocker et al., 1998; 1996). Across experiments, small teams with about five graduate students interacted for approximately two weeks to determine the high-level requirements and design for a computerized post office (Goel, 1989; Olson et al., 1993). The means of interaction was manipulated in these experiments such that teams interacted via one of the following treatments: (1) asynchronous computer-medicated communication (CMC), (2) synchronous CMC, (3) asynchronous CMC interspersed with face-to-face (FtF) meetings, or (4) a series of traditional FtF meetings without any electronic communication. A repeated finding across experiments was that teams interacting only using asynchronous CMC – that is, teams without any FtF or synchronous communication -- produced significantly more creative results than teams in the other treatments. Additionally, asynchronous virtual teams rated high in creativity were generally not the same teams that were judged high in terms of the quality of their deliverable. To further examine these findings, this chapter presents results of an exploratory study designed to investigate the impact of individual personality facets on team outcomes. The objective of this study is to determine whether differences in team outcomes – in terms of the level of creativity versus the quality of the team deliverable – can be predicted by individual member personality.no abstract
Key Terms in this Chapter
Synchronous CMC: Computer-mediated communication (see above) that occurs at the same time (e.g., instant messaging); that is, in real time.
Asynchronous CMC: Computer-mediated communication (see below) that occurs at different times (e.g., e-mail); that is, not instantly.
Personality Facets: Developed to more precisely measure the particular attributes subsumed within the broad personality factors; each factor is composed of multiple facets, where a facet includes a common ‘portion’ attributable to the associated factor as well as a portion attributable to that particular facet.
Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC): Communication between individuals that occurs using information and communication technology.
Personality Traits: Distinguish an individual from others; traits are persistent across situations and time.
Virtual Team: Team of individuals who collaborate across space, time, and/or organizational boundaries supported by information and communication technology.
Five Factors or Dimensions of Personality: A theory of personality; five factors are extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and negative emotionalism (also known as neuroticism); factors are broadly defined.
Five Factors or Dimensions of Personality: A theory of personality; five factors are extraversion, openness, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and negative emotionalism (also known as neuroticism); factors are broadly defined.
Personality Facets: Developed to more precisely measure the particular attributes subsumed within the broad personality factors; each factor is composed of multiple facets, where a facet includes a common ‘portion’ attributable to the associated factor as well as a portion attributable to that particular facet.
Synchronous CMC: Computer-mediated communication (see above) that occurs at the same time (e.g., instant messaging); that is, in real time.
Virtual Team: Team of individuals who collaborate across space, time, and/or organizational boundaries supported by information and communication technology.
Asynchronous CMC: Computer-mediated communication (see below) that occurs at different times (e.g., e-mail); that is, not instantly.
Personality Traits: Distinguish an individual from others; traits are persistent across situations and time.
Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC): Communication between individuals that occurs using information and communication technology.