Virtualizing of Team Processes and Team Performance

This study explores the virtualizability of team processes and their implications for team performance during the COVID-19 pandemic. The main research question was: What is the effect of the ease of virtualizing team processes on the outcomes of teams that have shifted from in-person to virtual work? A survey method was employed, and the data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Building on the frameworks based on literature review, the study defined sensory, relational, and synchronization requirements, along with the mechanisms of reach and representation. Results show that sensory requirements negatively influence the virtualizability of team processes, while relational and synchronization requirements do not have a statistically significant impact. Although the mechanisms of reach and representation do not moderate the relationships between constructs, they do have a direct positive effect on susceptibility to virtualization. Contrary to initial expectations, virtualizability positively affects both tangible and emotional outcomes, indicating that cohesion and satisfaction can be maintained—or even improved—in virtual teams. These findings enhance the theoretical understanding of team processes and virtualizability and offer practical insights for managing distributed teams.