Cross-Cultural Interactions among Virtual Teams in the Informational Technology Sector: An Analytical Approach

Abstract

In the digital era of the globalized economy, the concept of virtual teams becomes more common in the Information Technology (IT) industry, where specialists representing different cultural groups work across the national boundaries. The effectiveness, innovation and cohesion of such virtual teams greatly depend on the way in which they interact across cultures. Nevertheless, these interactions tend to be marred with problems associated with styles of communication, differences in language, time zone barriers, expectations of feedback and trust. The given article discusses the nature of cross-cultural communication in virtual IT teams presenting both the challenges and the means to cope with them. Examining the practices, tools, and methods of communication and leadership in the real environment, the article concludes several components which can lead to the successful multicultural collaboration. The results support the relevance of cultural awareness training, inclusive leadership, and integration of suitable technologies allowing asynchronous and synchronous communications. Suggestions are given to the organization that wants to elevate team performance and participation in geographically dispersed IT organizations.