Research Article Electronic Media Variety and Virtual Team Performance: The Mediating Role of Task Complexity Coping Mechanisms

N. Kock; G. S. Lynn

doi:10.1109/tpc.2012.2208393

IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Dec 2012

Research Article Electronic Media Variety and Virtual Team Performance: The Mediating Role of Task Complexity Coping Mechanisms

N. Kock ; G. S. Lynn

Abstract

Research problem: Much of the research on electronic communication media so far has been characterized by a focus on the impact that specific media may have on individuals and teams, as opposed to the impact that multiple media, when used in combination, may have on individuals and teams. Research questions: (1) Does a high degree of media variety facilitate the implementation of team mechanisms for coping with task complexity? (2) Does the degree of implementation of team mechanisms for coping with task complexity positively influence team performance? Literature review: Based on a focused literature review, we develop a new set of propositions relating media variety and team performance, which we tested in the context of teams engaged in new product development. Methodology: Data from 290 new product development teams in 66 organizations located in the Northeastern US were analyzed through partial least squares-based structural equation modeling. The analysis was conducted with the software WarpPLS 2.0. Results and discussion: The results of the analysis suggest that a high degree of electronic communication media variety facilitates the implementation of task complexity coping mechanisms, such as coordination activities, in new product development teams. This, in turn, seems to lead to significant gains in team efficiency and effectiveness in those teams. The results also suggest that while electronic communication media variety plays an important facilitation role, by facilitating coordination activities, it has a much less pronounced direct effect on team efficiency and effectiveness. In other words, in the absence of task complexity coping mechanisms, such as coordination activities, a high degree of media variety may not be very useful for teams carrying out complex tasks such as new product development.

Journal: IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
Published: 2012-12-01
DOI: 10.1109/tpc.2012.2208393
CompPile
Open Access: Closed
Topics: digital rhetoric book reviews
Export: BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

Duong et al. (2023)

Distress Coping Responses Among Teleworkers

IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication

References (97) · 4 in this index

10.4018/jec.2010100101

↗
chin (1998)

Issues and opinion on structural equation modeling

MIS Quart
kock (2009)

Information systems theorizing based on evolutionary psychology: An interdisciplinary rev…

MIS Quart ↗
10.1287/orsc.1040.0071

↗
10.2307/257090

↗

Show all 97 →

carlson (1995)

Channel expansion theory a dynamic view of media and information richness perceptions
10.1007/s10796-009-9175-y

↗
dennis (2008)

media, tasks, and communication processes: a theory of media synchronicity

MIS Quart ↗
10.1109/HICSS.1999.772701

↗
10.3200/SOCP.146.3.349-379

↗
10.2307/249668

↗
10.1287/isre.8.4.342

↗
10.1145/344241.344244

↗
10.1109/GLOCOM.1996.591948

↗
10.2307/248682

↗
10.1287/mnsc.32.5.554

↗
10.2307/256641

↗
10.1111/j.1365-2575.2007.00271.x

↗
10.1287/orsc.5.2.121

↗
10.4135/9781483325385.n6

↗
10.1002/9781118086254

↗
10.1080/10429247.2001.11415133

↗
creswell (2002)

Research Design Qualitative Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches
10.2307/3250968

↗
kock (2006)

Systems Analysis and Design Fundamentals A Business Process Redesign Approach
reich (2006)

Searching for knowledge in the PMBOK guide

Project Manage J ↗
steiner (1972)

Group Process and Productivity
10.2307/41165965

↗
kayworth (2002)

Leadership effectiveness in global virtual teams

J Manage Inf Syst ↗
10.2307/258353

↗
10.2307/258441

↗
Crowston et al. (2007)

The Role of Face-to-Face Meetings in Technology-Supported Self-Organizing Distr…

IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
10.1111/j.1365-2575.2007.00252.x

↗
wainfan (2004)

Challenges in Virtual Collaboration Videoconferencing Audioconferencing and Computer-Mediated Communications
10.1016/S0167-9236(01)00094-X

↗
10.4018/irmj.2002100106

↗
kerzner (2005)

Project Management A Systems Approach to Planning Scheduling and Controlling
10.1016/S0167-9236(02)00190-2

↗
10.1145/1118178.1118180

↗
10.1108/13632540810899434

↗
Te'eni et al. (2001)

The process of organizational communication: a model and field study

IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
Kock (2001)

Compensatory adaptation to a lean medium: an action research investigation of e…

IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
10.1057/palgrave.ejis.3000612

↗
popper (1972)

Objective Knowledge An Evolutionary Approach
stinchcombe (1968)

Constructing Social Theories
10.2307/3250931

↗
popper (1992)

Logic of Scientific Discovery
10.1016/j.indmarman.2005.02.005

↗
(2008)

Encyclopedia of E-collaboration
lynn (2002)

Blockbusters The Five Keys to Developing Great new Products
ayers (2011)

Integration and new product development success: The role of formal and informal controls

J Appl Bus Res ↗
(2011)

WarpPLS 2 0 User Manual
10.2307/3151718

↗
schumacker (2004)

10.4324/9781410610904

A Beginner's Guide to Structural Equation Modeling ↗
rosenthal (1991)

Essentials of Behavioral Research Methods and Data Analysis
jreskog (1982)

Systems Under Indirect Observation Causality Structure Prediction
siegel (1998)

Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences
10.2307/249410

↗
kline (1998)

Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling
gefen (2000)

Structural equation modeling and regression: Guidelines for research practice

Commun AIS
10.1108/02651339910300422

↗
10.1111/j.1467-8551.2006.00500.x

↗
10.1509/jmkr.38.2.269.18845

↗
petter (2007)

Specifying formative constructs in information systems research

MIS Quart ↗
10.2307/3151312

↗
hair (1987)

Multivariate Data Analysis
10.1080/1097198X.2006.10856414

↗
10.1287/isre.14.2.189.16018

↗
10.4018/jec.2011010102

↗
10.1057/palgrave.jors.2601436

↗
hofstede (2001)

Culture's Consequences Comparing Values Behaviors Institutions and Organizations Across Nations
strauss (1998)

Basics of Qualitative Research Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory
glaser (1967)

The Discovery of Grounded Theory Strategies for Qualitative Research
hoover (2008)

Collaboration everywhere

Inf Week
10.1002/asi.21612

↗
10.1016/S0305-0483(97)00018-2

↗
audi (2003)

An Introduction to Contemporary Epistemology
10.4018/jec.2011010101

↗
10.1007/s10726-006-9044-8

↗
10.1016/S0167-9236(02)00132-X

↗
10.1016/S0167-9236(03)00021-6

↗
10.4018/jec.2005070101

↗
10.1287/isre.10.2.110

↗
watson-manheim (2007)

Communication media repertoires: Dealing with the multiplicity of media choices

MIS Quart ↗
nunnally (1994)

Psychometric Theory
10.1016/j.dss.2007.03.011

↗
10.4135/9781412985642

↗
Kock (2005)

Media Richness or Media Naturalness? The Evolution of Our Biological Communicat…

IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
10.1037/10694-000

↗
watson-manheim (2002)

Support for communication-based work processes in virtual work

E-Service J ↗
ehremberg (1976)

Factor Analysis Limitations and Alternatives
10.1093/mnras/225.1.155

↗
10.1037/h0043158

↗
nunnaly (1978)

Psychometric Theory
10.1038/scientificamerican0583-116

↗
10.1207/S15328007SEM0803_2

↗
gobet (2004)

10.4324/9780203503638

Moves in Mind The Psychology of Board Games ↗

CrossRef global citation count: 36 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Research Article Electronic Media Variety and Virtual Team Performance: The Mediating Role of Task Complexity Coping Mechanisms

Abstract

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (1)

References (97) · 4 in this index

Related Articles