5. Discussion and Conclusion
Virtual Teams catch the attention of researchers from different disciplines and the executives from business
world by means of increasingly wide spreading application and increasing popularity in literature. Despite the
increasing popularity of virtual teams, it is seen that the empirical studies on virtual teams are not sufficient.
Especially the gap concerning the success and performance determiner in virtual teams, differing from
conventional teams in terms of time and place, has not been filled yet. This paper aims to unveil the mystery on
success and performance determiner in virtual teams. For this purpose the concept of virtual team is analyzed by
means of literature review and it is understood that there are many problems with management and leadership in
virtual teams. In addition to this team learning in virtual teams is also vital for team success. Hence, it is aimed
in this study that in the context of virtual teams the relationship among leadership behaviors, team learning and
team performances evaluated holistically and aim to contribute the management literature.
According to the research results, it is seen that leadership, team learning and team effectiveness scales
developed in Western countries and applied for the conventional teams keep the validity and reliability for virtual
teams and Turkey which is a developing country and. In this paper the relationship between leadership behaviors
and team learning in virtual teams is also analyzed. The findings reveal the direct and strong relationship
between task-oriented and relationship-oriented leadership and internal learning; task-oriented and
change-oriented leadership and external learning.
This findings shows that in virtual teams when leaders determine the roles of team members, their performance
standards, business activities, plans and interest in the team members one to one and mentor them rather being a
formal director, the team members will have tendency to share their individual level knowledge, skills and
specialties. Therefore the intangible values shared go from individual level to team level and contribute the
internal learning. Besides this, the findings when the leaders in virtual teams produce business plans and
standardize the performance evaluation, team activities and the role of members and add datum about change
and innovation to these standards and plans, it is seen that teams get more successful to create new solutions to
solve the problems encountered by means of external sources and to obtain new skills. To sum up these findings;
the task-oriented leadership, meaning that the leaders determine the standards for business plans, is a sin aqua
non for both internal and external learning. In addition to this, to realize the internal learning, the leaders are to
interest in team members one to one and encourage them to share knowledge and reliability and to realize the
external learning, the leaders are to be open to changes and express that change is a must and determine business
plans and standards accordingly.
Last but not least this study aims to contribute the related literature by means of analyzing the relationship
between team learning and team performances in the concept of virtual teams. The findings provide in support of
the strong relationship between both internal and external learning and team performance. These results, similar
to the extant literature, underlines the fact that as the usage of teams becomes a structural norm, team problem
solving in terms of team learning is a perquisite for team performance and success (e.g., Reus & Liu, 2004, p.
245; Green et al., 2005, p. 350). In other words, no matter in virtual or traditional team—the most important
determiners of teams’ success and performance is offering a solution for the problems encountered, namely
realizing a team level learning.
There are some limitations to this study that constraint the generalizability of the results. First of all the results
should be considered that the study conducted in a developing country, Turkey and the truth that the results may
change in societies from different cultural and economic backgrounds cannot be slighted. Besides it is seen that
there is a need for another study for traditional teams since this paper deals with the virtual teams. Moreover, this
paper’s findings focus on the datum taken from 101 team members. The more crowded participants provide the
results with higher generalization level. This paper is important however it only deals with the success and
performance in virtual teams, which is still mysterious concept. From this point, it is obvious that the concept of
virtual teams constitutes a rich research are for further analysis. It is highly advised further researchers to include
the new variables like psychological safety and climate when they analyze team learning and performance in
virtual teams, to increase the number of people in sampling and to use the primary data (such as datum of the
company) rather attitude scales to evaluate the team performance.
5. Discussion and Conclusion
Virtual Teams catch the attention of researchers from different disciplines and the executives from business
world by means of increasingly wide spreading application and increasing popularity in literature. Despite the
increasing popularity of virtual teams, it is seen that the empirical studies on virtual teams are not sufficient.
Especially the gap concerning the success and performance determiner in virtual teams, differing from
conventional teams in terms of time and place, has not been filled yet. This paper aims to unveil the mystery on
success and performance determiner in virtual teams. For this purpose the concept of virtual team is analyzed by
means of literature review and it is understood that there are many problems with management and leadership in
virtual teams. In addition to this team learning in virtual teams is also vital for team success. Hence, it is aimed
in this study that in the context of virtual teams the relationship among leadership behaviors, team learning and
team performances evaluated holistically and aim to contribute the management literature.
According to the research results, it is seen that leadership, team learning and team effectiveness scales
developed in Western countries and applied for the conventional teams keep the validity and reliability for virtual
teams and Turkey which is a developing country and. In this paper the relationship between leadership behaviors
and team learning in virtual teams is also analyzed. The findings reveal the direct and strong relationship
between task-oriented and relationship-oriented leadership and internal learning; task-oriented and
change-oriented leadership and external learning.
This findings shows that in virtual teams when leaders determine the roles of team members, their performance
standards, business activities, plans and interest in the team members one to one and mentor them rather being a
formal director, the team members will have tendency to share their individual level knowledge, skills and
specialties. Therefore the intangible values shared go from individual level to team level and contribute the
internal learning. Besides this, the findings when the leaders in virtual teams produce business plans and
standardize the performance evaluation, team activities and the role of members and add datum about change
and innovation to these standards and plans, it is seen that teams get more successful to create new solutions to
solve the problems encountered by means of external sources and to obtain new skills. To sum up these findings;
the task-oriented leadership, meaning that the leaders determine the standards for business plans, is a sin aqua
non for both internal and external learning. In addition to this, to realize the internal learning, the leaders are to
interest in team members one to one and encourage them to share knowledge and reliability and to realize the
external learning, the leaders are to be open to changes and express that change is a must and determine business
plans and standards accordingly.
Last but not least this study aims to contribute the related literature by means of analyzing the relationship
between team learning and team performances in the concept of virtual teams. The findings provide in support of
the strong relationship between both internal and external learning and team performance. These results, similar
to the extant literature, underlines the fact that as the usage of teams becomes a structural norm, team problem
solving in terms of team learning is a perquisite for team performance and success (e.g., Reus & Liu, 2004, p.
245; Green et al., 2005, p. 350). In other words, no matter in virtual or traditional team—the most important
determiners of teams’ success and performance is offering a solution for the problems encountered, namely
realizing a team level learning.
There are some limitations to this study that constraint the generalizability of the results. First of all the results
should be considered that the study conducted in a developing country, Turkey and the truth that the results may
change in societies from different cultural and economic backgrounds cannot be slighted. Besides it is seen that
there is a need for another study for traditional teams since this paper deals with the virtual teams. Moreover, this
paper’s findings focus on the datum taken from 101 team members. The more crowded participants provide the
results with higher generalization level. This paper is important however it only deals with the success and
performance in virtual teams, which is still mysterious concept. From this point, it is obvious that the concept of
virtual teams constitutes a rich research are for further analysis. It is highly advised further researchers to include
the new variables like psychological safety and climate when they analyze team learning and performance in
virtual teams, to increase the number of people in sampling and to use the primary data (such as datum of the
company) rather attitude scales to evaluate the team performance.
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