Job-related demands and resources for employees working on virtual teams: A qualitative-study.

TY - JOUR

T1 - Job-related demands and resources for employees working on virtual teams: A qualitative-study.

AU - Schröder, Nora

AU - Kordsmeyer, Ann-Christin

AU - Harth, Volker

AU - Mache, Stefanie

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - BACKGROUND: The increasing globalization and the advances in communication technology have expedited the formation of virtual teams. The geographical distribution of virtual team members entails significant changes in working conditions. There is limited knowledge about the demands and resources virtual team members experience and how these can affect their mental health.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to identify work-related psychological demands and resources of virtual team members.METHODS: 14 semi-structured interviews with virtual team members were conducted. Study participants were recruited based on the gatekeeper principle and the snowball principle. The interviewees were asked about self-perceived job demands and resources of virtual teamwork. The interviews were analyzed according to Mayring's structuring content analysis.RESULTS: Based on the qualitative analysis, the following job demands were explored among virtual team members: challenges due to permanent availability, technical conditions, and communication issues with other virtual team members. Job-related resources among virtual team members were also identified and are reflected in increased autonomy, flexibility and improved compatibility of private and professional working life.CONCLUSION: This study contributes to the understanding of the specific working conditions of virtual team members and identified job demands and resources of virtual teamwork. In addition, this study can be used as a basis for further quantitative investigations.

AB - BACKGROUND: The increasing globalization and the advances in communication technology have expedited the formation of virtual teams. The geographical distribution of virtual team members entails significant changes in working conditions. There is limited knowledge about the demands and resources virtual team members experience and how these can affect their mental health.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to identify work-related psychological demands and resources of virtual team members.METHODS: 14 semi-structured interviews with virtual team members were conducted. Study participants were recruited based on the gatekeeper principle and the snowball principle. The interviewees were asked about self-perceived job demands and resources of virtual teamwork. The interviews were analyzed according to Mayring's structuring content analysis.RESULTS: Based on the qualitative analysis, the following job demands were explored among virtual team members: challenges due to permanent availability, technical conditions, and communication issues with other virtual team members. Job-related resources among virtual team members were also identified and are reflected in increased autonomy, flexibility and improved compatibility of private and professional working life.CONCLUSION: This study contributes to the understanding of the specific working conditions of virtual team members and identified job demands and resources of virtual teamwork. In addition, this study can be used as a basis for further quantitative investigations.

KW - Humans

KW - Qualitative Research

U2 - 10.3233/WOR-213520

DO - 10.3233/WOR-213520

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 34180458

VL - 69

SP - 871

EP - 884

JO - WORK

JF - WORK

SN - 1051-9815

IS - 3

ER -