Trust, Cohesion, & the Globally Distributed Team: The Effect of Team Proximity on Collaboration
23 Pages Posted: 21 Oct 2015
Date Written: September 10, 2015
Abstract
This research explores how team proximity influences team member cohesion and interpersonal trust, and how, within globally distributed teams, these variables impact collaboration. An evidence-based literature review was conducted using inclusion and exclusion criteria, after which the abstracts were analyzed for pertinence and references were evaluated for additional research. A framework synthesis approach was employed to identify recurring themes and drawing conclusions based upon the observations of these studies.
Findings were consistent with prior research, though the synthesis of the evidence highlights the relationships between proximate teams and affective trust as well as globally distributed teams and cognitive trust. Today’s global businesses rely on globally distributed teams to provide competitive advantage in the global market. The effectiveness of these teams relies on trust, cohesion, and collaboration and understanding the dynamic relationships between these factors can influence decisions and practices aimed at maximizing global team collaboration.
Keywords: cohesion, collaboration, globally distributed team, virtual team, proximity, trust
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