Intense Collaboration in Globally Distributed Work Teams: Evolving Patterns of Dependencies and Coordination

Abstract

In today's internationalized world, value creation consists of knowledge and work integration involving workers from around the world. Members of these globally distributed work teams (GDWT) encounter organizational behavior issues (identity, cultural differences, and leadership) and organization design issues (dependencies, information processing, media use, and teamwork structures). While most research on GDWT focuses on the first set of issues, this chapter is among the few to systematically explore the second set. We propose and elaborate on strategies for either reducing the intensity of collaboration, or enabling teams to collaborate intensely on a global scale. Implications for research and practice are explored.

Citation

Kumar, K., van Fenema, P.C. and Von Glinow, M.A. (2005), "Intense Collaboration in Globally Distributed Work Teams: Evolving Patterns of Dependencies and Coordination", Shapiro, D.L., Von Glinow, M.A. and Cheng, J.L.C. (Ed.) Managing Multinational Teams: Global Perspectives (Advances in International Management, Vol. 18), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 127-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0747-7929(05)18005-6