Impact of Computer-Mediated Communication on Virtual Teams- Performance: An Empirical Study

In a complex project environment, project teams face multi-dimensional communication problems that can ultimately lead to project breakdown. Team Performance varies in Face-to-Face (FTF) environment versus groups working remotely in a computermediated communication (CMC) environment. A brief review of the Input_Process_Output model suggested by James E. Driskell, Paul H. Radtke and Eduardo Salas in “Virtual Teams: Effects of Technological Mediation on Team Performance (2003)”, has been done to develop the basis of this research. This model theoretically analyzes the effects of technological mediation on team processes, such as, cohesiveness, status and authority relations, counternormative behavior and communication. An empirical study described in this paper has been undertaken to test the “cohesiveness” of diverse project teams in a multi-national organization. This study uses both quantitative and qualitative techniques for data gathering and analysis. These techniques include interviews, questionnaires for data collection and graphical data representation for analyzing the collected data. Computer-mediated technology may impact team performance because of difference in cohesiveness among teams and this difference may be moderated by factors, such as, the type of communication environment, the type of task and the temporal context of the team. Based on the reviewed model, sets of hypotheses are devised and tested. This research, reports on a study that compared team cohesiveness among virtual teams using CMC and non-CMC communication mediums. The findings suggest that CMC can help virtual teams increase team cohesiveness among their members, making CMC an effective medium for increasing productivity and team performance. Keywords—Computer-mediated Communication, Virtual Teams, Team Performance, Team Cohesiveness. Dr. Nadeem Ehsan has a degree of Ph. D. in Construction Engineering and Management from University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA, 1993. He has been working on various high tech projects. He is teaching in Center for Advanced Studies in Engineering (CASE) since last six years as a senior professor along with his industrial projects. (Phone: +92-300-8540914; fax: +92-51-8314660-61; e-mail: m4nadeem@ gmail.com). Ebtisam Mirza has a degree of M.fil in Engineering Management from Center for Advanced Studies in Engineering (CASE), Islamabad, Pakistan, 2008. She is teaching in Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science & Technology (SZABIST) since last few months as an assistant professor. (Email: [email protected]). Muhammad Ahmad a degree of M.fil in Engineering Management from Center for Advanced Studies in Engineering (CASE), Islamabad, Pakistan, 2008. He is a lecturer of computer sciences in Mohi-ud Din Islamic University, Islamabad. He is also working with ministry of Interior (Visa Office) as an IT Officer. (E-mail: [email protected]).