Bridging the gap between traditional leadership theories and virtual team leadership

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2006

Abstract

This paper identifies the paucity of theoretical development in virtual team leadership research and proposes that virtual team leadership research can be more rigorous and enriched by applying traditional leadership theories, specifically, leadership traits theory and contingency theory. Existing virtual team leadership research regarding these two theories is reviewed and limitations are discussed. Four contingencies which characterise virtual team context are identified including physical distance, communicational distance, organisational distance and cultural distance. Three important leadership traits in virtual team context are discussed: communication competency, environmental alertness, and influence power. This paper calls for a hybrid approach in virtual team leadership research. The implications of the four virtual team contingencies on these leadership traits are presented and research propositions are raised. A conceptual model is presented based on the propositions. Copyright © 2006 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.

Identifier

33845330267 (Scopus)

Publication Title

International Journal of Technology Policy and Management

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1504/IJTPM.2006.011253

e-ISSN

17415292

ISSN

14684322

First Page

274

Last Page

291

Issue

3

Volume

6

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