I am interested in understanding how the use of communication technologies, such as email and group decision support systems, affect the way individuals interact and work with others in teams. Increasingly, organizations are using teams to make decisions and execute projects. As work structures, teams enable organizations to integrate the unique knowledge held by individuals to bear on productive tasks. But as organizations globalize and decentralize their operations, team members are often geographically dispersed. To bridge the space and time that separate them, team members are using computer-mediated communication to coordinate their work. In fact, many organizations are encouraging their teams to have online meetings instead of meeting face-to-face because of security and cost concerns.

Teams, today, are also likely to be diverse because the demographic and functional diversity of individuals in organizations is growing. However, diversity in teams is a double-edged sword. On one hand, the different perspectives of individuals in diverse teams can positively impact team performance, especially decision making. But the social differences among individuals in diverse teams can limit the effective exchange of information among team members, which can negatively impact team performance. To date, my research has shown that the use of computer-mediated communication enhances the performance of geographically dispersed, diverse teams by increasing the positive impact and decreasing the negative impact of diversity in teams. I call this effect virtual equality.

Participate in this research!
To extend my understanding of virtual equality, I am currently looking for diverse teams in industry who are geographically dispersed and use or want to use computer-mediated communication to coordinate their work. In exchange for information about their team experience, I can offer them unlimited access to GrouputerNet technology at no cost. GrouputerNet is software that creates a virtual environment for teams to meet, generate ideas, share information using Excel, Word, or Powerpoint, and make decisions over the Internet. GrouputerNet offers teams process templates and decision tools to help structure their collaboration whether synchronous or asynchronous, which saves them both time and money. Even better, teams' online interactions are captured as formatted reports that can be retrieved and printed.

As part of a research study, GrouputerNet is now available on a secure server at the eCenter. Interested teams can have unlimited access to this technology for 3-6 months if they agree to let me study how they use it. I would conduct phone interviews with individual team members at the beginning and at the end of the research study to understand their initial expectations and overall evaluation of the technology. During the study, individual team members would also be required to complete a truly short, online survey after each GrouputerNet meeting. Aside from team members, only my research team and I would have access to teams' online interactions stored on our secure server. Most importantly, all data collected as part of this research study would kept confidential and anonymous at all times. Once a team has signed up for the research study, I will contact each team member to interview them and provide them with an easy-to-understand guide and security information on how to access and use our GrouputerNet technology. Teams will receive technical support at no cost during regular business hours as part of the study. I can, however, arrange with GrouputerNet for teams to receive additional training for a fee, if desired.

To participate in this research study or for more information, please email me at abhappu@mail.cox.smu.edu.

Biography
Anita D. Bhappu is an Assistant Professor of Management and Organizations in the Cox School of Business and a Faculty Affiliate of the Hart eCenter at Southern Methodist University. She received her Ph.D. in Management from the University of Arizona. She studies how the interactions and outcomes of diverse work teams are affected by communication technologies, such as email and group decision support systems. She also studies the social and technological context of relationships in organizations, such as the interactions between customers and providers during service delivery. Her research is published in the Academy of Management Review, Journal of Applied Psychology, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and Work and Occupations. Prior to her academic career, Anita worked as a chemical engineer for the Procter & Gamble Company.

Research

Projects
  2002-2003
  2001-2002
Technical Reports
Special Emphasis