A meta-review of global virtual team research: thematic insights and future directions
Cross Cultural & Strategic Management
ISSN: 2059-5794
Article publication date: 5 April 2024
Issue publication date: 26 April 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This study provides a meta-review of global virtual team (GVT)–related reviews, creating a resource that highlights dominant themes, research trends and shifts in topics over time culminating in a summary of opportunities for future research. By analyzing and grouping the evidence presented in previous research, this meta-review provides key insights toward future research and managerial implications.
Design/methodology/approach
This meta-review identifies 35 existing GVT-related reviews across 32 publication outlets, providing a longitudinal and cross-disciplinary view of GVT research to date.
Findings
Results of the analysis reveal over time that there has been a largely adopted reconceptualization of the GVT paradigm toward a continuum of virtuality. There has been a shift in the view of the cross-cultural and global components of GVTs toward a recognition that a greater variance of dimensionality exists. Additionally, popular themes across the literature emerge, notably, virtuality, concepts of culture, trust, leadership and communication technology.
Originality/value
As a multidisciplinary GVT-focused meta-review, this study complements previous efforts by taking a tour across this wide topic and is dedicated to those who are researching, teaching, working and managing GVT-related strategies. The reviews selected represent work published across multiple literature streams, providing a comprehensive and forward thinking perspective.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
I gratefully acknowledge the anonymous reviewers and Associate Editor, Echo (Yuan) Liao, for valuable feedback on earlier versions of this manuscript. Additionally, I would like to express my gratitude to my mentor, Vas Taras, for his guidance and support throughout the course of this research and my heartfelt appreciation to John Lynden who provided numerous friendly reviews.
Citation
Lynden, K.D. (2024), "A meta-review of global virtual team research: thematic insights and future directions", Cross Cultural & Strategic Management, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 205-242. https://doi.org/10.1108/CCSM-11-2022-0196
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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