ITR Collaborative Research - Subgroup Fault Lines in Distributed International Teams: The Impact on Cross-National Learning and Team Effectiveness

本研究项目探讨了技术驱动的国际分布式团队的扩散，通过促进跨国理解和成员的能力，可以在多大程度上为社会和经济服务。深入研究了两个具有理论和实践意义的问题，即亚群体动力学和跨国学习过程。了解这些团队中的这些过程以及使用通信技术对他们的影响是重要的目标。此外，研究将考虑每个过程在团队有效性中所起的作用。团队和个人层面的心理过程和行为将通过在大型国际分布公司进行人种学实地研究的方式进行检查。将特别注意通讯模式、通讯技术的使用和有关资料的分享。本研究旨在通过发展分布群体中的子群体极化与合作、中等异质性国际群体中的跨国学习过程以及这些过程对团队有效性的影响的理论和证据来推进科学。设想的进展还包括对支持协作技术的设计的建议。

This research project explores the extent to which the proliferation of technology-enabled, international distributed teams can serve a social as well as an economic good by promoting cross-national understanding and the competence of members. Two issues of theoretical and practical significance are examined in depth, subgroup dynamics and cross-national learning processes. Understanding these processes in such teams and the impact of the use of communication technologies on them are important objectives. Moreover, the research will consider the role that each process plays in team effectiveness. Psychological processes and behavior at the team and individual levels will be examined by means of an ethnographic field study in a large, internationally distributed company. Particular attention will be given to patterns of communication, use of communication technologies, and the sharing of contextual information. The research seeks to advance science through the development of theory and evidence concerning subgroup polarization and collaboration in distributed groups, cross-national learning processes in moderately heterogeneous international groups, and the impact of these processes on team effectiveness. Envisioned advances also include recommendations for the design of supporting collaborative technologies.