The Effect of Time Separation on Coordination Processes and Outcomes: A Case Study

Prior research has discussed and investigated how global teams bridge multiple boundaries (e.g., distance, time, culture) that separate its members and impact the coordination of their work. In this paper we report on a study we conducted at a semiconductor manufacturing company to better understand how global teams can work more effectively across one of these boundaries — time separation. More specifically, we investigate how time zones affect coordination costs and other coordination outcomes, and which coordination processes and mechanism are more effective in helping overcome the difficulties associated with time separation. The study was conducted through semi-structured interviews of 23 global team members working on technical projects in several locations around the globe.