Explaining the relationship between motivation, work satisfaction, and virtual team effectiveness: A mixed methods study

The overall purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of how one\u27s motivation influences the relationship between work satisfaction and utilization of certain attributes associated with virtual team effectiveness. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used to measure and analyze correlations between individual work satisfaction and utilization of virtual team effectiveness attributes dependent upon participant motivation patterns and characteristics. In the first, quantitative phase of the study, the Motivation Sources Inventory (© Future Leadership) was utilized in collecting data globally from employed virtual team members via an online survey to measure participant work motivation for the five sources, as defined by Leonard, Beauvais, and Scholl (1999): Intrinsic Process, Self-concept Internal, Self-concept External, Instrumental, and Goal Internalization. A modified version of The Virtual Teams Survey instrument developed by Lurey (1998) was employed concurrently to measure perceptions about the levels of utilization of various virtual team effectiveness attributes and the level of work satisfaction. In the second qualitative phase, follow-up interviews were conducted to confirm and help explain the quantitative results. Insight into how an individual\u27s motivation influences the relationship between work satisfaction and utilization of virtual team effectiveness attributes suggests that individuals possessing moderate or higher levels of goal internalization relative to other types of work motivation may find virtual team work satisfying. However, findings suggest that work satisfaction, regardless of motivation pattern, may be improved by strengthening team leadership, aligning rewards with goals, and enhancing the communications technology utilized by virtual teams. More importantly, this knowledge may aid virtual team leaders in integrating, leading, and empowering diverse teams so that they function cohesively and effectively in achieving their missions