Group Norms in Virtual Work: New Directions

Abstract

Despite the increasing implementation of virtual work arrangements (e.g., global virtual teams, online communities, technology-mediated collaboration) in modern organizations, virtuality (i.e., reliance on technology rather than face-to-face communication) can pose many potential challenges to effective group functioning and outcomes. Although, researchers have recognized the importance of having clear and shared group norms for behavior in order to facilitate more effective virtual work, this research area remains relatively underdeveloped. In this symposium, we convene an international group of researchers whose work extends this critical, but still nascent, research domain. The papers include both theoretical as well as lab and field empirical studies that examine how different types of group norms or norm-related constructs work in conjunction with virtuality to impact important dynamics and outcomes in different types of virtual work environments. Collectively, the studies offer significant research extensions and new directions for understanding the role of group norms in facilitating effective virtual work.