Understanding the relationship between justice and team goal commitment in virtual project teams: The role of para-social presence as a moderating context

Abstract

Virtual project teams (VPTs) is a common phenomenon in todaya??s economy. This research attempts to look at the engendering of individual membera??s team goal commitment within VPTs as the socio-technical determinant in advancing common performance issues. This study builds upon the Social Exchange Theory and Psychological Contracts to explicate salient drivers to formulate a conceptual framework of antecedents leading to the enhancement of individual membersa?? team goal commitment in VPTs. This article puts forward an approach through the explication of an individuala??s perception of justice within the virtual project team as the psychological motivation towards his/her team goal commitment. Also, by arguing for the sub-dimensions of the construct of Para-Social Presence as the underlying computer-mediated communication moderating context within virtual project teams, this paper further postulates the influence of Connectivity, Sense of understanding, Involvement and Positivity as IT-mediated communication characteristics affecting the relationships between justice and team goal commitment.