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Leading and working in dispersed teams
Christopher A Bell
Abstract
Dispersed teams are increasingly a part of organizational life. This reality is putting increased pressure on t4eam leaders and team members to make better use of the various communication media available to the organization. One theory that has been very influential on the way team leaders and team members select specific media for specific communication acts is that of 'Media Richness Theory'. Media Richness Theory proposes that to communicate effectively in a dispersed team situation, team leaders and team members need to align the communication act with the appropriate communication media. Communications that are difficult, either intellectually or emotionally, need to use a "rich" medium that allows multiple levels of communication and real-time feedback. A better understanding of this perspective can help managers in charge of virtual or dispersed teams manage their staff for optimum results.
Keywords
Media Richness Theory, virtual teams, dispersed teams, team, communication
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