Understanding subgroup identification, team identification and intergroup relations in global virtual teams.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to empirically examine subgroup dynamics in global virtual teams. Survey (N = 36) and interview data (N = 10) were collected from the students of three distant universities attending a global project course. Divided into eight teams, 56 students collaborated on company sponsored projects which addressed real business issues. The results demonstrated that identification with geographic subgroups was positively related to intergroup bias towards distant teammates. Intergroup bias was represented by favorable evaluation of collocated teammates. This study also found the detrimental impact of conflict on satisfaction. Whereas conflict with collocated teammates was harmful to satisfaction, conflict with distant teammates was not. The study demonstrated that identification with geographic subgroups plays a significant role in influencing how team members act in virtual teams. By showing that intergroup bias was primarily in the form of ingroup enhancement, this study proposes a possible explanation for the mixed results in the faultline research. This study also extends the analytical model of the effect of conflict to include social and psychological factors (expectation and subgroup boundary).