Chapter 6: Virtual Teams from Emotion and Behavior Perspective: A Theoretical Review

This chapter explores virtual teams from an emotional and behavioral perspective, providing a comprehensive theoretical review of how the various dimensions of team virtuality impact team members’ emotions and behaviors. The increasing use of digital technologies in organizations has led to a rise in virtual team structures. These teams are dispersed across spatial, temporal, and organizational boundaries and primarily communicate via information and communication technologies (ICTs). While virtual teams offer flexibility and efficiency, they also present unique challenges, particularly concerning emotional well-being and behavioral dynamics. This review integrates several prominent theories to assess the impact of virtual team characteristics on individual and collective performance, including Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) Theory, Social Network Theory, Social Information Processing Theory, Construal Level Theory (CLT), Cognitive Load Theory, Social Identity Theory, Swift Trust Theory, Empowerment Theory, and Person–Environment (P–E) Fit Theory.