The Perceived Impact of Geographically Dispersed Work Teams On Job Attitudes

Abstract

With the increase in technology and pace of communication in a global business economy, organizations are adopting geographically dispersed business models that leverage a series of scaled work arrangements designed to enhance efficiency and cost-effectiveness. These arrangements include work teams that consist of agents who work in a traditional office but also employees who work from a home or satellite office. This qualitative study investigated perceived impact of geographic proximity to the office on job attitudes. Communication theory informed the framework of this ethnographic study and qualitative interviews. Results indicated that members of a dispersed team adopt a broad definition of their workgroup and decline in their motivation to maintain, or pursue, more intimate relationships. Findings also show that dispersed workgroups had lower levels of organizational identity and trust. This study found that proximity and its impact on job attitudes was not as important as other organizational variables, such as strength of communication and the presence of leadership.