The “virtual team player”

Abstract

In spite of the increasing demand for virtual cooperation, still relatively little is known about the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics (KSAOs) individuals need for virtual teamwork. Thus, the current paper aims at synthesizing the existing literature into a comprehensive model of virtual teamwork KSAOs. To this end, we review (a) existing frameworks of KSAO requirements for virtual teamwork, (b) challenges posed by different facets of virtuality, and (c) KSAOs particularly relevant for meeting the identified challenges. The results of this review are integrated into a holistic model of virtual teamwork KSAOs with distal characteristics (personality, experience) and more proximal qualities (knowledge, skills, and motivation). Research gaps as well as avenues for future research will be outlined and applications for virtual team staffing and training will be discussed.