Virtual team communication in a multicultural decentralized organization

This research focuses on examining the communication processes of the virtual team operating in a multicultural decentralized organization. The research is conducted in one of the case company’s business line’s virtual team that consists of professionals geographically located in different European countries. The aim is to establish an understanding of how the virtual team is experienced as a working environment and how the team executes its internal communication activities. The aim is also to give some development suggestions for team communication tools based on the study results. Emphasis is put on online communication channels and intercultural communication aspects. Theoretical framework consists of a literature review regarding themes such as distributed virtual teams and organizations, online communication in a virtual team and intercultural communication in a virtual working environment. This research was carried out as a case study research. Case study approach was chosen as a suitable research method as the aim was to create a full understanding of the function of a virtual team communication practises in a multinational organization. More specifically, the research is executed as a single-case (holistic) design as the research focuses only in one organization and specifically in one team within the organization. The research revealed that the virtual team’s communication processes works mainly quite well, and the communication activities are implemented via traditional communication channels. Anyhow, it would be in the company's best interest to find the opportunities of digitalization and to develop team’s internal communications with the help of modern communication technology. In the end the researcher will provide some development suggestions for the virtual team communication tools. These suggestions are based on the research results