Personnel Review, Volume 44, Issue 2, March 2015.
Purpose The aim of the paper is to explore the interrelation between language differences, media choice and social categorization in global virtual teams (GVTs). Design/methodology/approach An ethnographic field work was conducted in a Finnish multinational corporation (MNC). The study included interviews, observations, and language proficiency assessment of 27 GVT members located in five European countries. Findings In GVTs, the combination of language proficiency differences and verbal media (e.g. telephone) tends to lead to social categorization, while a similar effect was not found when GVT members chose written media (e.g. e-mail). Research limitations/implications The qualitative study only consisted of GVTs from one MNC, and thus the empirical findings might not be generalizable to other MNCs. Therefore, quantitative studies that can add to the robustness of the exploratory findings could be a worthwhile endeavor. Practical implications Language training should be provided to GVT members, and virtual policies should be implemented to ensure the use of written media in GVTs characterized by language proficiency differences. Originality/value Although it is well established in the literature that language differences are detrimental to co-located team effectiveness, no study has explored how the relationship between variation in language proficiency and media choice affects social categorization in GVTs.
Purpose The aim of the paper is to explore the interrelation between language differences, media choice and social categorization in global virtual teams (GVTs). Design/methodology/approach An ethnographic field work was conducted in a Finnish multinational corporation (MNC). The study included interviews, observations, and language proficiency assessment of 27 GVT members located in five European countries. Findings In GVTs, the combination of language proficiency differences and verbal media (e.g. telephone) tends to lead to social categorization, while a similar effect was not found when GVT members chose written media (e.g. e-mail). Research limitations/implications The qualitative study only consisted of GVTs from one MNC, and thus the empirical findings might not be generalizable to other MNCs. Therefore, quantitative studies that can add to the robustness of the exploratory findings could be a worthwhile endeavor. Practical implications Language training should be provided to GVT members, and virtual policies should be implemented to ensure the use of written media in GVTs characterized by language proficiency differences. Originality/value Although it is well established in the literature that language differences are detrimental to co-located team effectiveness, no study has explored how the relationship between variation in language proficiency and media choice affects social categorization in GVTs.