ADMINISTRATIVE GOVERNANCE CHALLENGES SHAPING PERFORMANCE OF TRANSNATIONAL VIRTUAL WORK TEAMS

We examine how administrative governance challenges shape the performance of transnational virtual work teams and how digital governance infrastructure conditions these effects in multinational organizations. We apply the Trans Virtual Governance Model using the Transnational Virtual Team Governance Dataset compiled from globally distributed enterprises operating formal cross border virtual teams. We analyze a validated sample of 38 organizations drawn from a confirmed population of 1,180 multinational firms using standardized governance and performance indices and moderated regression analysis. We find that coordination complexity systematically constrains task efficiency and output timeliness, while accountability clarity and decision authority alignment strengthen collaboration quality and goal achievement. We also find that these governance effects are not uniform. Digital governance infrastructure converts governance structures into consistent performance outcomes by reducing coordination friction and reinforcing accountability and delegated authority. The core contribution lies in identifying a governance absorption mechanism through which digital systems condition whether administrative challenges translate into performance loss or stability. This advances governance and virtual work theory by specifying differentiated, mechanism based pathways rather than generalized virtuality effects. The findings offer globally relevant guidance for organizational leaders and policymakers designing effective governance frameworks for distributed digital work.