Identification in global and virtual teams: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Research on team identification highlights its critical role in effective teamwork, especially in global and virtual teams. Despite its significance, the fragmented nature of existing studies, with studies conducted across varied contexts, limits a cohesive understanding of the phenomenon. Given the complexities of team identification in global and virtual settings, further research is necessary to examine how unique challenges within these environments modify the impact of identification compared to traditional teams. To address this gap, this study employs a systematic literature review, conducting a thematic analysis of 45 articles to categorize research into three distinct team categories: (1) monocultural teams with virtual meeting environments; (2) multicultural teams with non-virtual meeting environments; and (3) multicultural teams with virtual meeting environments. These categories are examined comprehensively to analyze identification development and outcomes across global and virtual teams. Subsequently, they are integrated into a cohesive framework that explains identification’s role within global and virtual teams. The framework highlights the fragmented yet progressive nature of existing research and identifies promising directions for future research.