Abstract
Organizations are increasingly using virtual teams to gain competitive advantages in the marketplace, but managers face a tradeoff between the benefits that such virtual teams provide and their inherent weaknesses. This paper examines identity communication in virtual environments, arguing that identity communication can counteract some of the negative aspects of virtual teamwork. Using coded transcriptions from 35 semi-structured interviews with working professionals who participate in virtual teams, we explore the process of identity communication in virtual teams and the role of technology in influencing and enabling these processes. Using established identity and media theories as a guide, we formulate, and then refine, a framework to summarize consistent themes in the interview data. Our findings lay the groundwork for future theoretical development in this relevant area of research, and we argue that further advances in this domain will allow organizations to more effectively leverage a virtual workforce with effective collaboration technologies.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | 2015 Americas Conference on Information Systems, AMCIS 2015 |
| Publisher | Americas Conference on Information Systems |
| ISBN (Print) | 9780996683104 |
| State | Published - 2015 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | 21st Americas Conference on Information Systems, AMCIS 2015 - Fajardo, Puerto Rico Duration: Aug 13 2015 → Aug 15 2015 |
Other
| Other | 21st Americas Conference on Information Systems, AMCIS 2015 |
|---|---|
| Country | Puerto Rico |
| City | Fajardo |
| Period | 8/13/15 → 8/15/15 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Identity
- Mediated communication
- Semi-structured interviews
- Virtual teams
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Computer Science Applications
- Information Systems
Cite this
Identity communication in virtual teams : Insights from interviews with working professionals. / Wilson, David W.; Thatcher, Sherry M B; Brown, Susan A; Harris, Sarah D.
2015 Americas Conference on Information Systems, AMCIS 2015. Americas Conference on Information Systems, 2015.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
}
TY - GEN
T1 - Identity communication in virtual teams
T2 - Insights from interviews with working professionals
AU - Wilson, David W.
AU - Thatcher, Sherry M B
AU - Brown, Susan A
AU - Harris, Sarah D.
PY - 2015
Y1 - 2015
N2 - Organizations are increasingly using virtual teams to gain competitive advantages in the marketplace, but managers face a tradeoff between the benefits that such virtual teams provide and their inherent weaknesses. This paper examines identity communication in virtual environments, arguing that identity communication can counteract some of the negative aspects of virtual teamwork. Using coded transcriptions from 35 semi-structured interviews with working professionals who participate in virtual teams, we explore the process of identity communication in virtual teams and the role of technology in influencing and enabling these processes. Using established identity and media theories as a guide, we formulate, and then refine, a framework to summarize consistent themes in the interview data. Our findings lay the groundwork for future theoretical development in this relevant area of research, and we argue that further advances in this domain will allow organizations to more effectively leverage a virtual workforce with effective collaboration technologies.
AB - Organizations are increasingly using virtual teams to gain competitive advantages in the marketplace, but managers face a tradeoff between the benefits that such virtual teams provide and their inherent weaknesses. This paper examines identity communication in virtual environments, arguing that identity communication can counteract some of the negative aspects of virtual teamwork. Using coded transcriptions from 35 semi-structured interviews with working professionals who participate in virtual teams, we explore the process of identity communication in virtual teams and the role of technology in influencing and enabling these processes. Using established identity and media theories as a guide, we formulate, and then refine, a framework to summarize consistent themes in the interview data. Our findings lay the groundwork for future theoretical development in this relevant area of research, and we argue that further advances in this domain will allow organizations to more effectively leverage a virtual workforce with effective collaboration technologies.
KW - Identity
KW - Mediated communication
KW - Semi-structured interviews
KW - Virtual teams
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84963527828&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Conference contribution
SN - 9780996683104
BT - 2015 Americas Conference on Information Systems, AMCIS 2015
PB - Americas Conference on Information Systems
ER -