Theorizing Virtual Teams: Relationality in Dispersed Collaboration

Theorizing Virtual Teams: Relationality in Dispersed Collaboration

Chrysavgi Sklaveniti
ISBN13: 9781522540946|ISBN10: 1522540946|EISBN13: 9781522540953
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-4094-6.ch001
Cite Chapter Cite Chapter

MLA

Sklaveniti, Chrysavgi. "Theorizing Virtual Teams: Relationality in Dispersed Collaboration." Online Collaboration and Communication in Contemporary Organizations, edited by Ditte Kolbaek, IGI Global, 2018, pp. 1-20. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-4094-6.ch001

APA

Sklaveniti, C. (2018). Theorizing Virtual Teams: Relationality in Dispersed Collaboration. In D. Kolbaek (Ed.), Online Collaboration and Communication in Contemporary Organizations (pp. 1-20). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-4094-6.ch001

Chicago

Sklaveniti, Chrysavgi. "Theorizing Virtual Teams: Relationality in Dispersed Collaboration." In Online Collaboration and Communication in Contemporary Organizations, edited by Ditte Kolbaek, 1-20. Hershey, PA: IGI Global, 2018. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-5225-4094-6.ch001

Export Reference

Mendeley
Favorite

Abstract

Contemporary organizations operate in highly connected structures, with work extending beyond physical borders. As such, organisations experience the emergence of virtual teams: teams that collaborate virtually and work together, despite differences in time-zones, physical proximity or cultural backgrounds. This chapter aims to shed light on this contemporary work arrangement from a relational perspective, leading to an understanding of the dimensions of virtuality underpinning work. For doing so, the chapter begins by describing the emergence of dispersed teams as a contemporary business practice. The discussion, then, turns to ways of relating to one another on a virtual landscape, and focuses on the virtuality dimensions of time-space, leadership, trust, and the struggle between cohesion and flexibility. The chapter concludes with a projection on the future around dispersed collaboration, and with an outline of future research for advancing the understanding and practice of virtual teams.

Request Access

You do not own this content. Please login to recommend this title to your institution's librarian or purchase it from the IGI Global bookstore.