EarlyCite Article
E-leadership effectiveness in virtual teams: motivating language perspective
| Title: | E-leadership effectiveness in virtual teams: motivating language perspective |
|---|---|
| Author(s): | Kai-Tang Fan, (Lunghwa University of Science & Technology), Yuan-Ho Chen, (Lunghwa University of Science and Technology), Ching-Wen Wang, (National Chung Hsing Univsrsity), Minder Chen, (California State University Channel Islands) |
| Citation: | Kai-Tang Fan, Yuan-Ho Chen, Ching-Wen Wang, Minder Chen, (2014) "E-leadership effectiveness in virtual teams: motivating language perspective", Industrial Management & Data Systems, Vol. 114 Iss: 3 |
| Article type: | Research paper |
| Publisher: | Emerald Group Publishing Limited |
| Abstract: | Purpose - Virtual teams are becoming a norm in current knowledge-based society and offer a wide range of organizational benefits. This study aims to investigate the effects of leaders’ motivating language and feedback approach on virtual team members’ creativity performance. Design/methodology/approach - A 2x2 with pre-test and post-test experimental design was employed to explore how to stimulate virtual team members’ creativity performance using a group decision support system. Findings - The results show that leaders’ motivating language and feedback approach via email instructions have different interaction effects on members’ creativity and idea generation performance. Team members receiving direction-giving instructions generate more ideas under the demanding feedback approach and team member receiving instructions with more empathetic language exhibit higher creativity performance under the encouraging feedback approach. Research limitations/implications - Shortcomings of virtual environment and leadership remain the major factors influencing such findings. Since the results are also restrained by the functionality of the utilized software tool, tools for virtual teams are recommended to include features that can support the effective use of team leaders’ motivational language. Practical implications - This research provides important insights for leaders to choose proper motivating language while communicating with virtual team members. Originality/value - The gained insights beneficially help tool developers for virtual teams build/enhance their tools based on the need of team leaders. This paper also usefully offers important implications regarding how to motivate virtual team members’ creative thinking. |
Emerald Insight | Industrial Management & Data Systems | E-leadership effectiveness in virtual teams: motivating language perspective