Refining virtual cross-national research collaboration: drivers, affordances and constraints
Purpose – The study aims to explore and explain the affordances and constraints of two-mode virtual collaboration as experienced by a newly forming international research team. Design/methodology/approach – This is self-reflective and action-oriented research on the affordances and constraints of tw...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Emerald Publishing
2022-10-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Work-Applied Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JWAM-02-2022-0010/full/pdf |
| _version_ | 1797788017959632896 |
|---|---|
| author | Irina A. Lokhtina Laura Colombo Citra Amelia Erika Löfström Anu Tammeleht Anna Sala-Bubare Marian Jazvac-Martek Montserrat Castelló Lynn McAlpine |
| author_facet | Irina A. Lokhtina Laura Colombo Citra Amelia Erika Löfström Anu Tammeleht Anna Sala-Bubare Marian Jazvac-Martek Montserrat Castelló Lynn McAlpine |
| author_sort | Irina A. Lokhtina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose – The study aims to explore and explain the affordances and constraints of two-mode virtual collaboration as experienced by a newly forming international research team. Design/methodology/approach – This is self-reflective and action-oriented research on the affordances and constraints of two-mode virtual collaboration. In the spirit of professional development, the authors (nine researchers at different career stages and from various counties) engaged in a joint endeavour to evaluate the affordances and constraints of virtual collaborations in light of the recent literature while also researching the authors' own virtual collaboration during this evaluative task (mid-January–April 2021). The authors used two modes: synchronous (Zoom) and asynchronous (emails) to communicate on the literature exploration and recorded reactions and emotional responses towards existing affordances and constraints through a collective journal. Findings – The results suggest both affordances in terms of communication being negotiable and evolving and constraints, particularly in forming new relations given tools that may not be equally accessible to all. Journaling during collaborations could be a valuable tool, especially for virtual collective work, because it can be used to structure the team supported negotiation and discussion processes, especially often hidden processes. It is evident that the role of a leader can contribute to an alignment in the assumptions and experiences of trust and consequently foster greater mutual understanding of the circumstances for productive team collaborations. Originality/value – The findings of this study can inform academics and practitioners on how to create and facilitate better opportunities for collaboration in virtual teams as a rapidly emerging form of technology-supported working. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:30:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e6578a1faf3a47af8a4a3f02ad532684 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2205-2062 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T01:30:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | Emerald Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Work-Applied Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-e6578a1faf3a47af8a4a3f02ad5326842023-07-04T08:57:09ZengEmerald PublishingJournal of Work-Applied Management2205-20622022-10-0114230231510.1108/JWAM-02-2022-0010Refining virtual cross-national research collaboration: drivers, affordances and constraintsIrina A. Lokhtina0Laura Colombo1Citra Amelia2Erika Löfström3Anu Tammeleht4Anna Sala-Bubare5Marian Jazvac-Martek6Montserrat Castelló7Lynn McAlpine8University of Central Lancashire, Larnaca, CyprusNational Scientific and Technical Research Council, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDeakin University, Burwood, AustraliaUniversity of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandTallinn University, Tallinn, EstoniaBlanquerna Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, SpainMcGill University, Montreal, CanadaBlanquerna Ramon Llull University, Barcelona, SpainUniversity of Oxford, Oxford, UKPurpose – The study aims to explore and explain the affordances and constraints of two-mode virtual collaboration as experienced by a newly forming international research team. Design/methodology/approach – This is self-reflective and action-oriented research on the affordances and constraints of two-mode virtual collaboration. In the spirit of professional development, the authors (nine researchers at different career stages and from various counties) engaged in a joint endeavour to evaluate the affordances and constraints of virtual collaborations in light of the recent literature while also researching the authors' own virtual collaboration during this evaluative task (mid-January–April 2021). The authors used two modes: synchronous (Zoom) and asynchronous (emails) to communicate on the literature exploration and recorded reactions and emotional responses towards existing affordances and constraints through a collective journal. Findings – The results suggest both affordances in terms of communication being negotiable and evolving and constraints, particularly in forming new relations given tools that may not be equally accessible to all. Journaling during collaborations could be a valuable tool, especially for virtual collective work, because it can be used to structure the team supported negotiation and discussion processes, especially often hidden processes. It is evident that the role of a leader can contribute to an alignment in the assumptions and experiences of trust and consequently foster greater mutual understanding of the circumstances for productive team collaborations. Originality/value – The findings of this study can inform academics and practitioners on how to create and facilitate better opportunities for collaboration in virtual teams as a rapidly emerging form of technology-supported working.https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JWAM-02-2022-0010/full/pdfVirtual teamsVirtual collaborationTwo-mode virtual communicationSynchronous/asynchronous communicationCOVID-19 |
| spellingShingle | Irina A. Lokhtina Laura Colombo Citra Amelia Erika Löfström Anu Tammeleht Anna Sala-Bubare Marian Jazvac-Martek Montserrat Castelló Lynn McAlpine Refining virtual cross-national research collaboration: drivers, affordances and constraints Journal of Work-Applied Management Virtual teams Virtual collaboration Two-mode virtual communication Synchronous/asynchronous communication COVID-19 |
| title | Refining virtual cross-national research collaboration: drivers, affordances and constraints |
| title_full | Refining virtual cross-national research collaboration: drivers, affordances and constraints |
| title_fullStr | Refining virtual cross-national research collaboration: drivers, affordances and constraints |
| title_full_unstemmed | Refining virtual cross-national research collaboration: drivers, affordances and constraints |
| title_short | Refining virtual cross-national research collaboration: drivers, affordances and constraints |
| title_sort | refining virtual cross national research collaboration drivers affordances and constraints |
| topic | Virtual teams Virtual collaboration Two-mode virtual communication Synchronous/asynchronous communication COVID-19 |
| url | https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JWAM-02-2022-0010/full/pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT irinaalokhtina refiningvirtualcrossnationalresearchcollaborationdriversaffordancesandconstraints AT lauracolombo refiningvirtualcrossnationalresearchcollaborationdriversaffordancesandconstraints AT citraamelia refiningvirtualcrossnationalresearchcollaborationdriversaffordancesandconstraints AT erikalofstrom refiningvirtualcrossnationalresearchcollaborationdriversaffordancesandconstraints AT anutammeleht refiningvirtualcrossnationalresearchcollaborationdriversaffordancesandconstraints AT annasalabubare refiningvirtualcrossnationalresearchcollaborationdriversaffordancesandconstraints AT marianjazvacmartek refiningvirtualcrossnationalresearchcollaborationdriversaffordancesandconstraints AT montserratcastello refiningvirtualcrossnationalresearchcollaborationdriversaffordancesandconstraints AT lynnmcalpine refiningvirtualcrossnationalresearchcollaborationdriversaffordancesandconstraints |