Abstract

Mohammed Zulfikar Jamshed

Numerous studies found that teams in organizations which communicate both effectively and successfully results in high team performance and employee satisfaction. This study examines the differences between face-to-face and virtual teams (both via Email and Portal), the impact of specific communication technology in task completion, and the ultimate impact on cohesion, team performance and employee satisfaction. A total of 362 Masters in Business Administration postgraduate students in a European university operating in Egypt participated in a team exercise to accomplish a task. They were randomly assigned via computer software into teams to one of the three specific mediums (Email (virtual), Portal (virtual), or face-to-face) for intra-team communication. Results suggested that the impact of technology usage to facilitate communication amongst teams is significant and that organizations may be detrimentally affecting their teams’ performance though the use or the lack of use of certain communication technologies. Results also suggested that all organizations utilizing teams and communication technology, and that strive to enhance performance, should implement the most effective communication practices, as per their culture specificity, that result in the greatest team performance