Correlating Survey Data and Network Data to Understand Performance in Global Virtual Teams

This paper presents results of an exploratory study of eight graduate student teams who were working as global virtual teams over a five-month period as part of a three-university (University of Cologne, Helsinki University of Technology, Savannah College of Art and Design) online course conducted in collaboration with instructors from MIT's Center for Collective Intelligence. The purpose of the study was to compare the use of an online survey self-assessment instrument with assessment of email gathered through automated means to evaluate team performance. Findings show that the assessment methods are complementary and can be used to understand the development and functioning of global virtual teams over time. Both assessments indicate that it is important for global virtual teams to have a clear mission and objectives that all team members understand and can commit to carrying out if global teams are to perform successfully. Automated tools that analyze email communication, both structure and content, can help managers and team members alike monitor and quickly evaluate the activity of global virtual teams, and a self-assessment can be a supplementary diagnostic tool to enhance performance.