Student innovation capability in virtual team projects: lessons learnt from COVID-19 pandemic era

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine students’ innovation capability in virtual team projects from the COVID-19 pandemic era. Design/methodology/approach The researchers conducted an empirical study and the data were collected from a total of 308 participants engaging in virtual team projects. A structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to assess the relationship of the conceptual framework. Findings The findings showed that virtual team culture positively influenced propensity to innovate. Also, knowledge management and communication influenced propensity to innovate through the mediation of support for innovation. Practical implications Developing a strategy for propensity to innovate in any organization demands that project team members should be able to seamlessly communicate. Developing knowledge management, communication and support for innovation strategy in a virtual team may prepare an organization for permanently different post-pandemic events and the future turbulent business environment. Originality/value This study highlights innovation capability for the propensity to innovate, a topic that is not widely researched, especially in the context of virtual teams.

Exploring Trends of Innovation Types in Final Year Projects of Undergraduate Students

“…In this study, student innovation capability is defined as the ability to constantly transform knowledge, skills and creativity into innovative products or services. The student innovation capability is displayed as an individual project proven by a study (Iddris et al, 2023). Meanwhile, a study by Pilav-Velic et al (2020) showed that the students displayed personal innovativeness deemed to be more employable.…”

Creativity in virtual teams: Systematic review, synthesis and research agenda

“…Group support systems are a combination of strategies and techniques designed to improve the interaction between individuals working together on a given task (Cherry & Latulipe, 2014). At a broader level, groups support systems promote creativity in three ways: (1) by managing and centralizing information on a single platform, (2) by facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing and (3) by displaying visual or social signals to stimulate group thinking (Gabriel et al, 2016; Iddris et al, 2022; Michinov, 2012; Michinov et al, 2015). Much research in this area has focused on the effects of anonymity on creative collaborations.…”

Towards a comprehensive conceptual framework for multicultural virtual teams: a multilevel perspective exploring the relationship between multiculturalism and performance

“…Project literature highlight that "peopleware" (Joia, 1998) and work teams (Gilson et al, 2015) as crucial in projects. Besides, the social distancing caused by the COVID-19 pandemic affects PM (M€ uller and Klein, 2020) and facilitated the use of multicultural teams in projects (Iddris et al, 2022).…”

“…Finally, other opportunities for future study in PM literature are (1) the sense of belongingness of a culturally diversified virtual teams as a proxy related to performance, (2) the use of new and emerging technologies to foster virtual communication, as using PM tools, (3) the impact of the project life cycle on the virtual team interaction (Gilson et al, 2015) or (4) the development of knowledge management, a communication programs and support for the innovation strategy (Iddris et al, 2022). IJMPB 16,2…”