Adaptations that Virtual Teams Make so that Complex Tasks Can Be Performed Using Simple E-Collaboration Technologies

Abstract

Using the theoretical lens of compensatory adaptation theory, this study examines how organizational problem-solving teams adapt to lean media and effectively communicate. We examined several successful virtual teams using a bulletin board as their primary communication medium to perform complex process improvement tasks in their natural business environment. Although some established theories predict failure using lean media, savings from use of simple e-collaboration technologies provide motivation for conduct of virtual teams. Compensatory adaptation theory argues that e-collaboration technologies often pose obstacles to communication, and yet also lead to better team outcomes than the face-to-face medium. This study provides support for that theory. Members of the virtual teams reported adapting their communication to be more focused, clear, precise, neutral, concrete, concise, persuasive, considerate, and complete in order to overcome the obstacles posed by media of low richness. As a result of those adaptations, the teams perceived better quality and achieved success of the team outcome.

Information Systems Theorizing Based on Evolutionary Psychology: An Interdisciplinary Review and Theory Integration Framework

“…Media naturalness theory (Kock 2004(Kock , 2005 is an evolutionary theory that was developed to address theoretical problems with media richness theory, which were brought to light by many focused empirical tests. One of those problems is that there is solid evidence that electronic media that suppress face-to-face communication elements do seem to pose communication obstacles in equivocal team tasks (DeLuca et al 2006;Graetz et al 1998;Kahai and Cooper 2003;Simon 2006). This finding may be seen as supporting media richness theory.…”

“…Again using an object-oriented analogy, this precondition is equivalent to saying that evolutionary and nonevolutionary theories should refer to the same technology class, even though either theory may refer to a subclass of the technology. In information systems investigations, technology-related attributes such as the naturalness of an asynchronous electronic collaboration technology, are often included in causal models as independent constructs (DeLuca et al 2006;Simon 2006). Therefore, without this precondition being satisfied, it could be difficult to identify technology-related constructs that could serve as independent constructs in a causal model depicting the complete theoretical framework.…”

“…In spite of the above, there is strong evidence that lean media do pose obstacles to communication in equivocal team tasks (Burke and Chidambaram 1999;DeLuca et al 2006;DeRosa et al 2004;Graetz et al 1998;Kahai and Cooper 2003;McKinney and Whiteside 2006;Simon 2006). This evidence is, to a certain extent, contradictory with the evidence that falsified media richness theory, and suggests the existence of a theoretical gap.…”

Revisiting Media Choice

“…This stream includes social influence theory (Fulk et al 1990) and the critical mass theory of interactive media (Markus 1990). Although results regarding social influence on medium choice have been mixed (Kraut et al 1998), this view is found to complement the others in our understanding of medium choice (DeLuca et al 2006).…”

Computer‐based training: capitalizing on lessons learned

“…This theory postulates that team members adapt communication styles based on the richness or naturalness of the medium, compensating for a lack of cues. DeLuca et al . (2006) provide empirical support for this theory, finding that complex tasks can indeed be performed by virtual teams using less rich communication technologies.…”