A1 Journal article (refereed)
Exploring the discursive construction of subgroups in global virtual teams (2021)

Gibbs, J. L., Boyraz, M., Sivunen, A., & Nordbäck, E. (2021). Exploring the discursive construction of subgroups in global virtual teams. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 49(1), 86-108. https://doi.org/10.1080/00909882.2020.1851745

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Gibbs, Jennifer L.; Boyraz, Maggie; Sivunen, Anu; Nordbäck, Emma

Journal or series: Journal of Applied Communication Research

ISSN: 0090-9882

eISSN: 1479-5752

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 02/12/2020

Volume: 49

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 86-108

Publisher: Routledge, Taylor & Francis

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00909882.2020.1851745

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/75312

Abstract

The global teams literature has increasingly documented challenges due to demographic faultlines. While this literature tends to assume that faultlines are fixed and produce negative outcomes for teams, organizational communication scholars have long regarded team processes as dynamic and fluid. Drawing on a CCO perspective, we offer a re-conceptualization of subgroups as dynamic and discursively constructed. This study draws on an in-depth, longitudinal analysis of two global virtual teams to examine the discursive construction of subgroups and the role they play in team dynamics. Through a multi-method analysis of a corpus of 839 emails and 16 interviews with members of two global project teams over their lifecycle, we find that the discursive construction of subgroups evolves over time and plays an important role in explaining how they are experienced by team members. These findings have important theoretical and practical implications for overcoming subgroup challenges in global teams.

Keywords: organisational communication and public relations; communication; teams; groups; group dynamics; virtual environment; discourse; diversity

Free keywords: CCO; discourse; diversity; global virtual teams; subgroups

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1