Cultural diversity and information and communication technology impacts on global virtual teams:

An exploratory study

報告學生報告學生 : : 李欣璟李欣璟 ,,侯呈燕侯呈燕

OUTLINEOUTLINE• Abstract• Introduction• Literature review• Methodology• Findings• Conclusion and implication

AbstractAbstract• The challenges :

– The use of information and communication technology (ICT)– a multicultural workforce – organizational designs that involve global virtual teams

(GVTs)

• This exploratory study focused on The effects of cultural diversity ICT on team effectiveness

• The influence of Cultural diversity– Positive ： decision-making – Negative ： communication.

IntroductionIntroduction• Use of GVTs gives organizations access to a

larger pool of skills.

• Complexity as cultural biases may distort communication.

• Gain a better understanding– the effect of cultural diversity on team

effectiveness.

Literature reviewLiterature review• Culture is a complex and multidimensional

construct

• Cultural diversity is defined as heterogeneity of national cultures

• This study attempted to – Add to this body of knowledge

– Focused on the link between culture and ICT.

• Researchers have identified differences between eastern and western cultures– technology use – perception of task technology fit

• Six reasons why intercultural communication fails to create mutual understanding (Barna)

Literature reviewLiterature review

Literature reviewLiterature review• Some electronic meeting system structures affect

ed diversity— reducing or increasing its impact (Chidambaram & Kautz)

• Questions:• 1. 文化多樣性是如何影響虛擬團隊的團隊效力？

• 2. 通信技術如何調解文化多樣性和團隊成效之間的關係？

MethodologyMethodology• Interpretive approach.

– Expand the understanding of some elements of cultural diversity and ICT that may influence GVT effectiveness

• The data was collected by individual interviews.

• descriptive and interpretive coding

• Pattern coding was conducted during a systematic comparison of text passages– NVIVO 1.3

FindingsFindings

• 4.1. The impact of cultural diversity on GVT effectiveness

• 4.2. ICT mediation of the impact of cultural diversity on GVT effectiveness

The impact of cultural diversity on The impact of cultural diversity on GVT effectivenessGVT effectiveness

• Cultural diversity has both positive and negative effects on GVT effectiveness.

– 4.1.1. Intercultural communication

– 4.1.2. Decision-making

4.1.1. Intercultural communication4.1.1. Intercultural communication

• cultural and language barriers produced communication challenges– written and spoken language

• Four stylistic modes of verbal interaction :•Direct / indirect •Succinct / elaborate•Contextual / personal •Instrumental / affective

• Others – body language– time orientation

4.1.1. Intercultural communication4.1.1. Intercultural communication

4.1.2. Decision-making4.1.2. Decision-making

• Improved decision-making – using multiple points of view– leveraging diverse skills and knowledge

4.2. ICT mediation of the impact of cultural diversity on GVT effectiveness

• 4.2.1. E-mail• 4.2.2. Teleconferencing• 4.2.3. Team rooms• 4.2.4. Chat• 4.2.5. Channel selection

工具介紹： Lotus sametime( 整合通訊即時協助平台 )

4.2.1. E-mail4.2.1. E-mail

• Two aspects were important:– (1)the limitations and benefits of the

technology– (2)the benefits and limitations of e-mail for

intercultural communication.

4.2.1. E-mail4.2.1. E-mail• Overcome ?• Personal/contextual verbal• Verbal/nonverbal• Time zones 、 cultural diversity• Rehearsability and editability

4.2.2. Teleconferencing4.2.2. Teleconferencing• They overcame the challenges of teleconferencing.• (1) avoided miscommunication • (2) restating arguments

• Lotus Sametime– E-Meeting

4.2.3. Team rooms4.2.3. Team rooms• What is team rooms ?( 工具介紹 Notes Team Room)• The benefit?

– Team identityDispersion and cultural diversity

– Repository of document– discussion

工具使用的介紹工具使用的介紹 (Notes Team Room)(Notes Team Room)

工具使用的介紹工具使用的介紹 (Notes Team Room)(Notes Team Room)專案問題的提報與回應

工具使用的介紹工具使用的介紹 (Notes Team Room)(Notes Team Room)專案問題的協同處理與紀錄

工具使用的介紹工具使用的介紹 (Notes Team Room)(Notes Team Room)專案資料的紀錄與歸檔

工具使用的介紹工具使用的介紹 (Notes Team Room)(Notes Team Room)

• 各類專案的 Team Room 建檔

4.2.4. Chat4.2.4. Chat

• What is the Chat?(Lotus Sametime Chat)

• Such as meetings or teleconferences• Social group• Cultural diversity 、 decision-making

4.2.4. Chat4.2.4. Chat

4.2.4. Chat4.2.4. Chat

4.2.4. Chat4.2.4. Chat

4.2.5. Channel selection4.2.5. Channel selection• Media richness theory( 媒介豐富性理論 )

偏重在組織溝通媒介選擇在「媒介特徵」取向的論述。• Social presence theory( 社會臨場感理論 )

讓溝通參與者有感覺近似面對面互動的程度• Social influence theory( 社會影響模式 )

認為人們對溝通媒介的選擇，會受周圍互動人的影響。

5.Conclusions and 5.Conclusions and implicationsimplications

Social ProximitySocial Proximity Decision MakingDecision Making

CommunicationCommunicationCultural DiversityCultural Diversity

Media SelectionMedia SelectionE-mail

ICT CombinationTeam Room

E-mailICT Combination

Team Room

TaskTask

PhysicalProximity

PhysicalProximity

Initial ChannelInitial Channel

Individual Preferences

Individual Preferences

AccessibilityAccessibility

參考內容參考內容• Google 、 yahoo 、 wiki 網站• http://

www.bockytech.com.tw/products/Nvivo.htm

• http://www.ibm.com/lotus/sametime

•Thank you…