Adaptiveness in virtual teams: Organisational challenges and research directions

Computer supported teams are capturing the attention of academics and pract itioners as organisations increasingly put them into practice as virtual te ams. The practical relevance of current research into computer supported te ams could be increased if greater attention is paid to organisational chall enges as they form the context within which virtual teamwork takes place. A model of organisational challenges mapped against processes of adaptation is developed to highlight principle factors affecting virtual teams. A samp le of current research groups studying computer-supported teams is plotted onto this map to reveal the extent to which current research addresses thes e contextual factors. From this map insights are distilled with respect to what is known and is not known about virtual teams. This paper concludes wi th specific research needs in the study of virtual teams.