Transformational Leadership in Virtual Teams

Bagga, S. K., Gera, S., & Haque, S. N. (2022). The mediating role of organizational culture: Transformational leadership and change management in virtual teams. Asia Pacific Management Review. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1029313222000355

The study "The mediating role of organizational culture: Transformational leadership and change management in virtual teams" explores the dynamics of virtual teams, transformational leadership, organizational culture, and change management. Here's a summary of the key findings:

1. Virtual Teams in Modern Business Environment: The shift to virtual teams has become imperative for organizational continuity and endurance, especially in the face of the unstable business environment brought about by factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. Transformational Leadership in Virtual Teams: Transformational leadership, characterized by idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration, is crucial for effective leadership in virtual teams. Virtual team leaders must understand how to leverage virtual tools and technologies to coordinate, collaborate, and communicate effectively.

3. Organizational Culture: Organizational culture, comprising norms, values, basic assumptions, and beliefs, profoundly influences employee behavior. The Denison model identifies four cultural traits - involvement, consistency, adaptability, and mission - that contribute to high-performing organizations.

4. Change Management in Virtual Teams: Change management is a systematic process involving planning, communication, involvement, support, leadership, and managing resistance to transition from the present state to a desired state in organizations. Effective communication and involvement of all members are crucial for successful change management.

5. Mediating Role of Organizational Culture: The study found that transformational leadership positively relates to change management, organizational culture, and change management. Organizational culture partially mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and change management in virtual teams.

6. Implications for Leadership in Virtual Teams: Transformational leaders in virtual teams play a vital role in effectively managing change by fostering involvement, adaptability, consistency, and mission culture. Their behaviors influence and motivate employees to adapt to change and achieve organizational objectives.

In summary, the study highlights the importance of transformational leadership and organizational culture in facilitating successful change management in virtual teams. Leaders need to understand the dynamics of virtual teams, leverage technology for effective communication and collaboration, and foster a culture that embraces change and innovation to thrive in today's rapidly evolving business environment.