What Role Do Norms Play in Global Teamwork? The Influence of Cultural Communication and Coordination Norms on Team Processes in Internationally Distributed Teams

Tine Koehler

Advisor: Jose Cortina

Committee Members: Steve Zaccaro, Catherine Cramton

Enterprise Hall, 17
April 23, 2009, 08:00 PM to 07:00 PM

Abstract:

Internationally distributed teams (IDTs) face many challenges; however, there is a lack of research on what makes IDTs successful. In addition, research has yet to assess how IDTs develop and which team processes facilitate team functioning. Norms have played an important role in team development models of traditional, meaning collocated and homogenous, teams. The current study assesses the role of norms for team development in IDTs. More specifically, this study examines the effects of culture-driven communication norms on team interactions and on the creation of team norms which subsequently affect team processes such as cohesion, trust, motivation, and commitment.

The current study uses a longitudinal, process-oriented, qualitative design to observe student teams during two international collaborations including students from the USA, Finland, and the Germany. Using participant observation, the authors were able to follow team interactions and development over the course of each of the collaborations. Using grounded theory for data analysis, four different team development patterns emerged from the data each with unique team characteristics, key turning points in the team’s history,and team interaction patterns. Culture-driven communication norms were the basis for many of the team norms that the teams created as a response to their experiences. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.