Effective Virtual Project Teams: A Design Science Approach to Building a Strategic Momentum (Future of Business and Finance)

"Collaborating in virtual teams is a new reality in modern project management and work environments. Its emergence calls for an extensive analysis and re-alignment on the part of organizations, so as to help virtual teams maintain 'strategic momentum' - a concept that this book introduces. Strategic momentum represents perseverance with regard to pursuing a virtual team's strategy; a 'flywheel' concept that drives the team members to concentrate on the project tasks until they have reached their shared goal. The authors present a design science based model, together with an in-depth qualitative study involving eight virtual R & D project teams. In this model, strategic momentum is assessed in terms of empowerment, team task insight, and collective commitment. These three determinants can be promoted and sustained by various contextual factors and interventions on the part of the management. The authors also provide a wealth of practical tips to help practitioners and consultants generate and sustain strategic momentum in their own contexts when working with virtual teams."--Back cover Front Matter ....Pages i-xiii Introduction and Field Problem Concerning Virtual Project Teams (Raymond Opdenakker, Carin Cuypers)....Pages 1-15 Strategic Momentum (Raymond Opdenakker, Carin Cuypers)....Pages 17-37 Virtual Project Teams and Their Effectiveness (Raymond Opdenakker, Carin Cuypers)....Pages 39-58 Searching for Momentum in Virtual Project Teams (Raymond Opdenakker, Carin Cuypers)....Pages 59-153 Emergence and Sustaining of Team Task Insight, Empowerment, Collective Commitment, and Strategic Momentum (Raymond Opdenakker, Carin Cuypers)....Pages 155-212 Value for Practice (Raymond Opdenakker, Carin Cuypers)....Pages 213-219 Back Matter ....Pages 221-236