Introduction

This discussion explored dysfunctions in the context of virtual teams. Dysfunctions focussed upon were:

· Low individual commitment.
· Role overload.
· Role ambiguity.
· Absenteeism.
· Social loafing.

These were terms were taken from Jarvenpaa & Leidner (1998).
 

Themes Emerging From The Discussion

Based upon the comments posted by my colleagues here are some common themes that I found throughout the thread.

1. These and other dysfunctions, such as lack of participant access to technology, weak keyboarding skills, and a lack of trust within the team, may limit the effectiveness of virtual teams in some instances.
References: 555 (Brigitte); 564 (Glen); 565 (Siobhan); 566 (Siobhan)

2. These dysfunctions exist in all team-based contexts, not just virtual teams. 
References: 551 (Lorna); 570 (Ray); 612 (Lewis) 

3. Perhaps we should view dysfunctions of virtual teams as challenges that, in the end, only make the team (and its members) stronger and more effective.
References: 558 (Patricia); 614 (Patrick)

4. A virtual team's purpose and content play an important role in determining the effect that the dysfunctions have on the participants and how the dysfunctions are approached.
References: 570 (Ray); 578 (Siobhan)

5. As organizations begin to place a greater emphasis on virtual teams, more attention is given to dysfunctions such as cultural differences, difficulty in the assignment/assessment of duties, and fear of making permanently recorded mistakes.
References: 565 (Siobhan); 574 (Barbara); 
 

Conclusion

Throughout this discussion, the number of dysfunctions that we examined grew considerably. While some believe that these dysfunctions simply represent the nature of group work and are inevitable, others maintain that managers/instructors/CEOs can eliminate them through proper planning and development.

Regardless of the viewpoint taken, it remains that these dysfunctions will play a major role in how virtual teams transform learning organizations.
 
 

Specific Reference

Jarvenpaa, S.L. & Leidner, D.E. (1998). Communication and trust in global virtual teams. Journal of Computer Mediated Communication, 3(4). [Online]. Available:
http://www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol3/issue4/jarvenpaa.html
 
 

Internet Links From The Discussion

Teaching in A Virtual Classroom 
http://www.njit.edu/CCCC/VC/Papers/Teaching.html

Museum Learning Collaborative 
http://mlc.lrdc.pitt.edu/PHILANDPURP.HTML 

Effect of Window State on User Behavior in an Online Computer Mediated Conference
http://www-cscl95.indiana.edu/cscl95/ahern.html

Teaching Computer Science Students How to Work Together
http://www-cscl95.indiana.edu/cscl95/swigger.html
 

Ray