Faultlines, Communication Media, and Identification in Virtual Teams

The presence of faultlines (i.e., pre-existing subgroups in a team) may be particularly problematic in light of a critical challenge already facing virtual teams: fostering team identification. We focus on one particular type of subgroup--pre-existing organizational memberships--that may serve to splinter a virtual team. In this paper, we examine how subgroup identification strength, physically distributing subgroup members, and communication technology affect this challenge. Results suggest that for individuals who identify strongly with a subgroup, distributing subgroup members helps overcome barriers to team member identification; but when subgroup identification is weak, using a rich communication medium enhances team identification. Implications for managers and organizations are discussed.