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Job complexity and learning opportunities: A silver lining in the design of global virtual work

Author

Listed:
  • Niina Nurmi

    (Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Aalto University School of Science)

  • Pamela J Hinds

    (Center for Work, Technology and Organization, Department of Management Science & Engineering, Stanford University)

Abstract

A vast majority of research on global virtual work focuses on the struggles for workers as they navigate geographic, cultural, language, and time zone differences. Our research suggests that, despite these struggles, global virtual work may offer significant benefits to workers. We interviewed 78 engineers about their experiences of working globally and then surveyed 515 knowledge workers who worked either with globally distributed or exclusively collocated colleagues. Global virtual work was associated with workers’ positive appraisal of the work’s complexity and learning potential, which, in turn, improved innovation, satisfaction, and engagement. These effects, however, relied on workers’ off-job recovery between workdays.

Suggested Citation

  • Niina Nurmi & Pamela J Hinds, 2016. "Job complexity and learning opportunities: A silver lining in the design of global virtual work," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 47(6), pages 631-654, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:jintbs:v:47:y:2016:i:6:d:10.1057_jibs.2016.11
    DOI: 10.1057/jibs.2016.11
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Jimenez, Alfredo & Boehe, Dirk M. & Taras, Vasyl & Caprar, Dan V., 2017. "Working Across Boundaries: Current and Future Perspectives on Global Virtual Teams," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 341-349.
    3. Zakaria, Norhayati & Mohd Yusof, Shafiz Affendi, 2020. "Crossing Cultural Boundaries Using the Internet: Toward Building a Model of Swift Trust Formation in Global Virtual Teams," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 26(1).
    4. Jooss, Stefan & Conroy, Kieran M. & McDonnell, Anthony, 2022. "From travel to virtual work: The transitional experiences of global workers during Covid-19," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(6).
    5. Tavoletti, Ernesto & Bernhard, Theresa & Dong, Longzhu & Taras, Vas, 2023. "Peer performance evaluations in global virtual teams: A longitudinal analysis of surface- and deep-level attributes," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 29(3).
    6. Günter K Stahl & Martha L Maznevski, 2021. "Unraveling the effects of cultural diversity in teams: A retrospective of research on multicultural work groups and an agenda for future research," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(1), pages 4-22, February.
    7. Niccolò Pisani & Joan Enric Ricart, 2018. "Offshoring Innovation to Emerging Countries: The Effects of IP Protection and Cultural Differences on Firms’ Decision to Augment Versus Exploit Home-Base-Knowledge," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 58(6), pages 871-909, December.
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    9. Joardar, Arpita & Wu, Sibin, 2017. "Liabilities and benefits: Examining the two sides of the foreignness coin from entrepreneurial perspective," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 26(6), pages 1157-1167.

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