Status and Influence Processes in Virtual Teams and Mobile Collaborations

Communication between members of decision-making teams has long been known to be strongly influenced by member status. However, we still know relatively little about how status and status-driven influence processes change with the implementation of technologically-mediated virtual teams and mobile collaborative enterprises. Early predictions were that technologically-mediated communication would essentially flatten the status hierarchy of groups and teams (Kiesler, Siegel, & McGuire, 1984), allowing all members, regardless of position, social identity, or other characteristics, to have equal access to the decision-making process. A review of relevant theoretical approaches and prior empirical findings indicates that in all likelihood, status processes and influence are maintained in these settings, at least in some cases to the detriment of team effectiveness. This chapter examines, through the manifestations and functions of interpersonal status, the effects of technological mechanisms of collaboration on communication processes, relationships, and practices.