Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 266-305 |
| Number of pages | 40 |
| Journal | Small Group Research |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Early online date | 21 Jan 2019 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Apr 2019 |
Abstract
While the notion of task–media fit is inherent to most theories on communication in virtual teams, past studies have largely concentrated on single, isolated tasks—hence neglecting sequential and contextual effects of media use. Building on project management frameworks, this study abstracts from the task level to the broader and more practical level of project phases, linking these to changes in media use. In particular, the study illustrates the weekly use of communication media within 34 student teams during a 3-month project. In line with team process phase models, results showed differences in media use between project phases: While face-to-face communication decreased, the use of leaner media (i.e., telephone and chat) increased in later project phases. Moreover, the variation of media use within the project phases increased over time, emphasizing the temporal dynamics of task–media fit. Finally, implications especially for project managers and recommendations for further research are discussed.
Keywords
- communication, group development, group process, team, virtual group
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychology(all)
- Social Psychology
- Psychology(all)
- Applied Psychology
Cite this
- Standard
- Harvard
- Apa
- Vancouver
- BibTeX
- RIS
In: Small Group Research, Vol. 50, No. 2, 01.04.2019, p. 266-305.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Teams, Time, and Technology
T2 - Variations of Media Use Over Project Phases
AU - Handke, Lisa
AU - Schulte, Eva Maria
AU - Schneider, Kurt
AU - Kauffeld, Simone
N1 - Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation), grant no. KA2256/9-1
PY - 2019/4/1
Y1 - 2019/4/1
N2 - While the notion of task–media fit is inherent to most theories on communication in virtual teams, past studies have largely concentrated on single, isolated tasks—hence neglecting sequential and contextual effects of media use. Building on project management frameworks, this study abstracts from the task level to the broader and more practical level of project phases, linking these to changes in media use. In particular, the study illustrates the weekly use of communication media within 34 student teams during a 3-month project. In line with team process phase models, results showed differences in media use between project phases: While face-to-face communication decreased, the use of leaner media (i.e., telephone and chat) increased in later project phases. Moreover, the variation of media use within the project phases increased over time, emphasizing the temporal dynamics of task–media fit. Finally, implications especially for project managers and recommendations for further research are discussed.
AB - While the notion of task–media fit is inherent to most theories on communication in virtual teams, past studies have largely concentrated on single, isolated tasks—hence neglecting sequential and contextual effects of media use. Building on project management frameworks, this study abstracts from the task level to the broader and more practical level of project phases, linking these to changes in media use. In particular, the study illustrates the weekly use of communication media within 34 student teams during a 3-month project. In line with team process phase models, results showed differences in media use between project phases: While face-to-face communication decreased, the use of leaner media (i.e., telephone and chat) increased in later project phases. Moreover, the variation of media use within the project phases increased over time, emphasizing the temporal dynamics of task–media fit. Finally, implications especially for project managers and recommendations for further research are discussed.
KW - communication
KW - group development
KW - group process
KW - team
KW - virtual group
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85060576637&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1046496418824151
DO - 10.1177/1046496418824151
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85060576637
VL - 50
SP - 266
EP - 305
JO - Small Group Research
JF - Small Group Research
SN - 1046-4964
IS - 2
ER -