search query: @keyword decision-making / total: 9
results-list
reference: 4 / 9
« previous | next »
Author:Nordbäck, Emma Sofie
Title:Decision-making in virtual teams: Role of interaction and technology
Publication type:Master's thesis
Publication year:2011
Pages:94 + [17]      Language:   eng
Department/School:Perustieteiden korkeakoulu
Main subject:Työpsykologia ja johtaminen   (TU-53)
Supervisor:Vartiainen, Matti
Instructor:Hakonen, Marko
Electronic version URL: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-201207022752
OEVS:
Electronic archive copy is available via Aalto Thesis Database.
Instructions
close

Reading digital theses in the closed network of the Aalto University Harald Herlin Learning Centre

In the closed network of Learning Centre you can read digital and digitized theses not available in the open network.

The Learning Centre contact details and opening hours: https://learningcentre.aalto.fi/en/harald-herlin-learning-centre/

You can read theses on the Learning Centre customer computers, which are available on all floors.

Logging on to the customer computers

  • Aalto University staff members log on to the customer computer using the Aalto username and password.
  • Other customers log on using a shared username and password.

Opening a thesis

  • On the desktop of the customer computers, you will find an icon titled:

    Aalto Thesis Database

  • Click on the icon to search for and open the thesis you are looking for from Aaltodoc database. You can find the thesis file by clicking the link on the OEV or OEVS field.

Reading the thesis

  • You can either print the thesis or read it on the customer computer screen.
  • You cannot save the thesis file on a flash drive or email it.
  • You cannot copy text or images from the file.
  • You cannot edit the file.

Printing the thesis

  • You can print the thesis for your personal study or research use.
  • Aalto University students and staff members may print black-and-white prints on the PrintingPoint devices when using the computer with personal Aalto username and password. Color printing is possible using the printer u90203-psc3, which is located near the customer service. Color printing is subject to a charge to Aalto University students and staff members.
  • Other customers can use the printer u90203-psc3. All printing is subject to a charge to non-University members.
Location:P1 Ark Aalto  1242   | Archive
Keywords:virtual teams
decision-making
interaction
collaboration technologies
virtuella team
beslutsfattande
interaktion
samarbetsteknologier
Abstract (eng): Advances in technology have over the last two decades supported the development of virtual teams, constituted of geographically distributed members collaborating through technology.
Virtual teams are formed to perform complex tasks, and successful decision-making is crucial for their performance.
Despite the popularity of virtual teams, little is known about the nature of decision-making in them.
There is a need to study this subject in more detail, and take into account the effects of the newest technologies.

In this thesis I have chosen to investigate the decision-making process in virtual teams, aiming at discovering critical factors for success and failure.
Earlier theories on decision-making in co-located teams are applied to test their validity for a virtual setting.
I have also studied how technology specific features affect the decision-making process in order to shed light to what the role of technology is in virtual team decision-making.

I studied 21 teams of three persons each, collaborating on a decision-making task in a laboratory setting.
A web conferencing tool was used by half of the groups and a virtual environment by rest of the groups.
The sessions were recorded and transcribed for enabling qualitative analysis of team discussions and interaction with technology.

My findings supported the applicability of general decision-making theories for virtual teams.
Especially, vigilant decision-making theory gained support from the findings.
Factors, such as shared understanding, thorough discussion before decision, high amount of valuable information shared, much questioning, and reevaluation were found to be important for successful decisions.
Unsuccessful teams, on the other hand, had reverse tendencies and made major wrong assumptions that led to poor decisions.
High questioning and reevaluation could save a group that were about to make mistakes.
Moreover, specific technology capabilities influenced slightly the virtual team decision-making.
The web conferencing tool showed to have some advantages over the virtual environment in this specific task.
Specifically, the virtual environment contained some pitfalls due to ease of use and a high possibility of individual and unprocessed decisions.
Abstract (swe): Teknikens utveckling har under de senaste två decennierna stött utvecklingen av virtuella team, bestående av geografiskt utspridda medlemmar som samarbetar med hjälp av teknik.
Virtuella team bildas för att utföra komplexa arbetsuppgifter och lyckade beslut är avgörande för deras prestanda.
Trots deras popularitet, vet man lite om beslutfattandes karaktär i virtuella team.
Det finns ett behov av att studera detta ämne mer ingående och beakta effekterna av den senaste tekniken.

I detta diplomarbete har jag valt att utforska beslutfattningsprocessen i virtuella team med syftet att upptäcka kritiska faktorer för lyckade och misslyckade beslut.
Tidigare teorier om beslutsfattande i samlokaliserade team används för att testa deras giltighet i virtuella miljöer.
Jag har också forskat i hur teknikspecifika särdrag påverkar beslutsprocessen för att belysa teknikens roll i virtuella teams beslutsfattande.

Jag undersökte 21 team, bestående av tre personer, som utförde en uppgift som involverade beslutsfattning.
Testen utfördes i en laboratoriemiljö.
Hälften av teamen använde sig av ett webbkonferens verktyg och hälften använde sig av en virtuell miljö.

Forskningsresultatet stödde antagandet att man kan tillämpa allmänna teorier om beslutsfattande i virtuella miljöer.
Speciellt teorin "vigilant decision-making" fick stöd från resultatet.
Faktorer såsom gemensam förståelse, grundlig diskussion innan beslutsfattande, stor mängd värdefull information delad, mycket ifrågasättande och omvärdering visade sig vara viktiga för lyckade beslut.
Team som misslyckade hade å andra sidan omvända tendenser och gjorde store felaktiga antaganden som ledde till misslyckade beslut.
Mycket ifrågasättning och omvärdering kunde rädda grupper som var på väg att göra ett misstag.
Dessutom inverkade specifika tekniska funktioner på beslutsfattandet i virtuella miljöer.
Webbkonferens verktyget visade sig ha en del fördelar i jämförelse med den virtuella miljön i denna specifika uppgift.
Uttryckligen, den virtuella miljön innehöll ett antal fallgropar som berodde på programmets användarvänlighet i samband med möjligheten till individuella och obearbetade beslut.
ED:2012-02-01
INSSI record number: 43900
+ add basket
« previous | next »
INSSI