A US study shows satisfaction with teammates improves team performance for face-to-face teams, and virtual teams. Issue 1 (5th November 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smith, David
• Is Part Of: Human resource management international digest. Volume 30:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 26
• Page End: 27
• Publication Date: 2021-11-05
• Subjects: Skills -- Virtual teams -- Social cohesion -- Teammate satisfaction -- Face to face teams; Personnel management -- Periodicals; 658.3124
• DOI: 10.1108/HRMID-09-2021-0201
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0967-0734

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The authors wanted to find out how to improve teamwork in both virtual teams and face-to-face teams. They suspected different factors were in play. Design/methodology/approach: Hypotheses were tested using data from 1, 110 participants. Participants enrolled in management capstone courses at a large public university in the southeastern US between Spring 2009 and Autumn 2016. The final sample was 997 participants in 242 project teams. Each team had three to six members, with an average number of 4.4. About, 55.6% of participants were operating in VTs. Students worked on a semester-long business simulation project called Glo-Bus, which was designed to model ongoing industry practices realistically. Findings: The results showed that individual skills were more influential on teammate satisfaction for FtFs than for VTs. Conversely, VT's interactions were more pivotal regarding teammate satisfaction for VT processes than FtFs. Originality/value: The research results have practical implications for managers. Managers need to focus on developing and selecting employees who are best suited for VTs, or they might become reluctant to continue working in them. But FtFs interact more easily than VTs and managers may prefer to create such teams on the basis of functional skills. It would also be beneficial for managers to assemble teams of individuals more likely to interact and form relationships, even if only via technological mediums such as videoconferencing for VTs.