Web-Based Template-Driven Communication Support Systems: Using Shadow netWorkspace to Support Trust Development in Virtual Teams

AbstrAct Teams whose interactions might be mediated entirely via Internet-based communication, virtual teams, are BLOCKINemerging BLOCKINas BLOCKINcommonplace BLOCKINin BLOCKINbusiness BLOCKINsettings. BLOCKINResearchers BLOCKINhave BLOCKINidentified BLOCKINtrust BLOCKINas BLOCKINa BLOCKINkey BLOCKINingredi-ent for virtual teams to work effectively BLOCKINresearchers BLOCKINhave BLOCKINnot BLOCKINidentified BLOCKINscalable BLOCKINmethods BLOCKINthat BLOCKINconsistently BLOCKINpromote BLOCKINtrust BLOCKINwithin virtual teams. Improved interface design for communication support systems used by virtual teams may contribute to solving this problem. Interface cannot solve the problem of members trusting each other, but it can support the type of activities that do. This paper describes the development and some initial experiences with a Web-based, template-driven, asynchronous communication support tool and how this system can be used to support trust development in virtual teams and performance goals of virtual teams. This article presents the capabilities and features of the communication support system. More detailed BLOCKINfindings BLOCKINfrom BLOCKINan BLOCKINexperimental BLOCKINstudy BLOCKINof BLOCKINthis BLOCKINsystem's BLOCKINuse BLOCKINcan BLOCKINbe BLOCKINfound BLOCKINin BLOCKINanother BLOCKINpublication (Remidez, 2003).