ScholarOne - Examining the Relationship Between Knowledge-Sharing,
Individual Trust, and Multinational Team Performance in a Virtual
Setting: A Non-Experimental Study
Abstract
The global workplace is rapidly evolving due to the influx of new ideas
from the diverse workforce that comprises it, and multinational virtual
teams (MNVTs) are the result. The problem addressed by this study was
that there was a risk of a breakdown of the team if the leaders of MNVTs
were not aware of the critical variables which impacted its success. The
theoretical framework of the study was based on Homans’ social exchange
theory. This research was a correlational, nonexperimental study in
which the relationship between three variables, trust,
knowledge-sharing, and MNV Team performance, was examined. The study
population consisted of 110 employees of a single multinational
technology company, who operated in an MNVT, and 70 responses were
received from the target population. Multiple regression analysis was
used, and the test results of the regression indicated the knowledge
sharing and trust explained 65.2% of the variance in team performance,
R2 = .652, F (2,68) = 65.714, p < .001. This study provided
data which suggested that knowledge sharing and trust were significant
predictors of team performance in MNVTs. This study suggested there
could be negative implications for global organizations, MNVT leaders,
and MNVT members if a culture and environment which supports
knowledge-sharing and trust are not available. By focusing on
perpetuating knowledge sharing and trust among MNVTs, global
organizations can positively contribute to the success of their MNVTs,
thereby enabling the advantages MNVTs offer.