Amatter of time? Mastering challenges of virtual team collaboration

Based on acase study, this article provides an overview of communication and coordination processes in virtual teams. In order to understand the nature of virtual team interactions, the authors begin with an analysis of virtuality dimensions (e.g., geographical dispersion, media use). These dimensions can be connected to specific challenges, such as the lack of interactivity, the absence of social context cues or the low relational focus found in virtual communication. These challenges, in turn, are related to impairments in intrateam processes (e.g., communication) and/or team cognition (e.g., shared mental models). However, problems may be mitigated as teams learn to adapt to their working conditions. These phenomena are both theoretically embedded in asimplified model of virtual team functioning as well as practically demonstrated in the context of the case study. The article concludes with research-based recommendations to promote adaptation in virtual teams.