Abstract
Virtual teams are inherently hierarchical entities involving individual team members within teams. Previous work has yet to fully engage their multilevel theoretical nature. In this article we introduce Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) as a statistical tool that can appropriately test cross-level relationships and model the multilevel nature of virtual team phenomena. Using data from a study involving 51 virtual teams, we illustrate the advantages of HIM over alternative approaches. Our results show that significant variance in individual satisfaction with a virtual team experience exists both within and between groups and that the individual perception of communication effectiveness is a significant predictor of satisfaction. Our results also demonstrate a significant main effect of team coordination, a team-level construct, on individual satisfaction.
The updated original online version for this book can be found at DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-35585-6_68
Chapter PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Keywords
- Team Member
- Communication Effectiveness
- Hierarchical Linear Modeling Hierarchical Unear Modeling
- Individual Perception
- Virtual Team
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
References
I. Bryk, A. and Raudenbush, S.W. Hierarchical Linear Models: Applications and Data Analysis Strategy. Sage Publications, Newberry Park, CA, 1992.
DeSanctis, G. and Poole, M.S. Transitions in teamwork in new organizational forms. Advances in Group Processes, 1997, 14: 157–176.
Duarte, D.L. and Snyder, N.T. Mastering Virtual Teams: Strategies, Tools, and Techniques that Succeed, Jossey-Bass Publishers, San Francisco, CA, 1999.
Furst, S., Blackburn, R and Rosen, B. Virtual teams: A proposed research agenda. Information Systems Journal, 1999, 9: 249–269.
Galegher, J. and Kraut, R.E. Computer-mediated communication for intellectual teamwork: an experiment in group writing. Information Systems Research, 1994, 5: 110–138.
Guzzo, R.A. and Dickson, M.W. Teams in organizations: recent research on performance and effectiveness. Annual Review of Psychology, 1996, 47: 307–338.
Hackman, J.R. Group influences on individuals in organizations. In: Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Dunnette, M.D. and Hough, L.M. (eds.), Consulting Psychologists Press, Palo Alto, CA, 1992.
Hofmann, DA. An overview of the logic and rationale of hierarchical linear models. Journal of Management, 1997, 23: 723–744.
Hofmann, DA., and Gavin, MB. Centering decisions in hierarchical linear models: Implications for research in organizations. Journal of Management, 1998, 24: 623–641.
House, R. Rousseau, D.A. and M. Thomas-Hunt. The meso-paradigm: A framework for the intergration of micro and macro organizational behavior. Research in Organizational Behavior, 1995, 17: 71–114.
Jarvenpaa, S. Knoll, K. and Leidner, D. Is anybody out there? Antecedents of trust in global virtual teams. Journal of Management Information Systems, 1998, 14: 29–64.
Jarvenpaa, S. and Ives, B. The global network organization of the future. Journal of Management Information Systems, 1994, 10: 25–58.
Jarvenpaa, S. and Leidner, D. Communication and trust in global virtual teams. Organization Science, 1999, 10: 791–815.
Lipnack, J. and Stamps, J. Virtual Teams: Reaching Across Space, Time, and Organizations with Technology. John Wiley and Sons, Inc, 1997.
Maznevski, M.L. and Chudoba, K.M. (Forthcoming) Bridging space over time: Global virtual team dynamics and effectiveness. Organization Science.
Piccoli, G. and Ives, B. Virtual teams: Swifts trust and the unintended effects of behavior control. Working Paper, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 2001.
Pinto, M.B, Pinto, J.K. and Prescott, J.E. Antecedents and consequences of project team cross-functional cooperation. Management Science, 1993, 39: 1281–1297.
Raudenbush, S.W., Bryk, A.S., Congdon, R.T. Jr. HLM 5 for Windows. Lincolnwood, IL: Scientific Software International, 2000.
Rousseau, D.M. Issues of level in organizational research: A multi-level and cross-level perspective. In Cummings, L.L. and Staw, B.M. (Eds.) Research in Organizational Behavior. JAI Press, Greenwich, CT, 1985, 7: 1–37.
Townsend, A., DeMarie, S. and Hendrickson, A. Virtual teams: technology and the workplace of the future. Academy of Management Executive, 1998, 12: 17–29.
Walther, J. Relational aspects of computer-mediated communication: experimental observations over time. Organization Science, 1995, 6: 186–203.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2002 IFIP International Federation for Information Processing
About this paper
Cite this paper
Piccoli, G., Short, J., Ives, B. (2002). Investigating Multilevel Relationships in Virtual Teams: An Illustration Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling. In: Camarinha-Matos, L.M. (eds) Collaborative Business Ecosystems and Virtual Enterprises. PRO-VE 2002. IFIP — The International Federation for Information Processing, vol 85. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-35585-6_49
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-35585-6_49
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4757-4789-8
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-35585-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive