Title: Engaging global virtual teams: a theoretical framework proposal on employee engagement predictors in global virtual settings

Authors: Marc Martí Toro; Ibon Zamanillo Elguezabal; Gaizka Garechana Anacabe

Addresses: Department of Management and Industrial Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Alameda Urquijo s/n, 48013 – Bilbao, Spain ' Department of Management and Industrial Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Alameda Urquijo s/n, 48013 – Bilbao, Spain ' Department of Management and Industrial Engineering, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Alameda Urquijo s/n, 48013 – Bilbao, Spain

Abstract: In a globalised world, where technology, processes and information are more accessible than ever, the differential factor between success or failure is the human capital. Yet, if our workforce is not engaged we will not be able to obtain its full potential or simply the talent will flee to greener pastures. Another trait of the globalisation is the increasing use of global virtual teams (GVTs) to manage a great variety of projects and endeavours in our organisations across multiple cultures, but we are still failing to recognise their different needs and challenges. This paper aims to be a first step towards filling this gap and reviews the existing literature on GVTs in order to propose a framework of predictors of employee engagement, from which to set a model describing the drivers behind employee engagement in virtual and multicultural environments.

Keywords: global virtual teams; GVTs; employee engagement; predictor; job demands; job resources; intercultural communication; social capital; trust; transformational leadership.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNVO.2020.107953

International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations, 2020 Vol.23 No.1, pp.17 - 38

Received: 16 Aug 2018
Accepted: 19 Dec 2018
Published online: 01 Jul 2020 *

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