Media Choices over Time in Partially Distributed Teams

Collaboration between organizations or between distributed groups in global organizations often is accomplished through the formation of partially distributed teams (PDTs). A PDT has at least two collocated sub teams which are distant from each other. As electronic media are the primary means of communication between distributed sub teams in a PDT the choice of media to use for both within- and between-sub team communications is critical. In a quasi-experimental field study we examine communication choices over time and the effects that culture may have on them. Our findings indicate that frequency of media use changes over time and that culture is one variable that may affect it. As sub teams within a PDT may have cultures different than each other, it is crucial to understand that there is no "one size fits all" choice of media for a PDT to use.