Global virtual work: a review, integrative framework, and future research opportunities

• 成果类型: Review
• 署名作者: Froese, Fabian Jintae; Blay, Tobias; Gibson, Cristina B.; Shaffer, Margaret A.; Benitez, Jose
• 署名单位: University of Gottingen; Yonsei University; Pepperdine University; University of Oklahoma System; University of Oklahoma - Norman; University System of Ohio; Kent State University; Kent State University Kent; Kent State University Salem
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDIES
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2506
• DOI: 10.1057/s41267-025-00775-1
• 发表日期: 2025
• 页码: 691-719
• 关键词: Global virtual work; Global virtual teams; Distributed work; Digital technologies; Global nomads; GIG WORKERS; systematic literature review; MULTILEVEL MODEL; Future research opportunities

摘要

Digitalization and global disruptions have fundamentally changed how we approach work. Global virtual work has become increasingly widespread in recent years, often replacing or complementing traditional expatriation and international business travel. To advance our understanding of this phenomenon, we systematically reviewed the literature on global virtual work, distinguishing it into three domains: global virtual teams, distributed work, and the use of digital technologies. For each domain, we examined key actors, their objectives, underlying theories, methodologies, and findings. The first domain provides insights into the antecedents, moderators, and mediators of the effectiveness of global virtual teams. The second domain explores individual and organizational research on diverse distributed work arrangements, such as offshoring, global platforms, and global nomads. The third domain addresses the enabling and moderating roles that digital technologies play in facilitating global virtual work. Synthesizing prior research, we developed a multilevel conceptual framework that integrates inputs, processes, and outcomes of global virtual work, offering novel perspectives. We outlined promising opportunities for future research across four themes: people, technology, context, and time. Additionally, we examined the practical implications of our findings for policymakers, managers, and individual workers as they navigate the evolving landscape of global virtual work. La num & eacute;risation et les bouleversements mondiaux ont fondamentalement chang & eacute; notre fa & ccedil;on d'aborder le travail. Le travail virtuel mondial est devenu de plus en plus r & eacute;pandu ces derni & egrave;res ann & eacute;es, rempla & ccedil;ant ou compl & eacute;tant souvent l'expatriation traditionnelle et les voyages d'affaires internationaux. Pour mieux comprendre ce ph & eacute;nom & egrave;ne, nous avons syst & eacute;matiquement pass & eacute; en revue la litt & eacute;rature sur le travail virtuel mondial, en le distinguant en trois domaines : les & eacute;quipes virtuelles mondiales, le travail distribu & eacute; et l'utilisation des technologies num & eacute;riques. Pour chaque domaine, nous avons examin & eacute; les acteurs cl & eacute;s, leurs objectifs, les th & eacute;ories sous-jacentes, les m & eacute;thodologies et les r & eacute;sultats. Le premier domaine apporte des renseignements sur les ant & eacute;c & eacute;dents, les mod & eacute;rateurs et les m & eacute;diateurs de l'efficacit & eacute; des & eacute;quipes virtuelles mondiales. Le deuxi & egrave;me explore la recherche individuelle et organisationnelle sur diverses modalit & eacute;s de travail distribu & eacute;, telles que la d & eacute;localisation, les plates-formes mondiales et les nomades mondiaux. Le troisi & egrave;me aborde les r & ocirc;les de facilitateur et de mod & eacute;rateur que jouent les technologies num & eacute;riques dans la facilitation du travail virtuel mondial. En synth & eacute;tisant les recherches ant & eacute;rieures, nous avons d & eacute;velopp & eacute; un cadre conceptuel multiniveaux qui int & egrave;gre les intrants, les processus et les r & eacute;sultats du travail virtuel mondial, offrant ainsi de nouvelles perspectives. Nous avons soulign & eacute; de prometteuses possibilit & eacute;s de recherche future dans quatre domaines : les personnes, la technologie, le contexte et le temps. En outre, nous avons examin & eacute; les implications pratiques de nos r & eacute;sultats pour les d & eacute;cideurs politiques, les managers et les travailleurs individuels qui naviguent dans le paysage en & eacute;volution du travail virtuel mondial. La digitalizaci & oacute;n y las disrupciones globales han cambiado fundamentalmente nuestra aproximaci & oacute;n al trabajo. El trabajo virtual global se ha generalizado cada vez m & aacute;s en los & uacute;ltimos a & ntilde;os, frecuentemente reemplazando o complementando la expatriaci & oacute;n tradicional y los viajes de negocios internacionales. Para avanzar en la comprensi & oacute;n de este fen & oacute;meno, realizamos una revisi & oacute;n sistem & aacute;tica de la literatura sobre el trabajo virtual global, distinguiendo tres dominios: equipos virtuales globales, trabajo distribuido y uso de tecnolog & iacute;as digitales. Para cada dominio, examinamos los actores clave, sus objetivos, teor & iacute;as subyacentes, metodolog & iacute;as y hallazgos. El primer dominio proporciona informaci & oacute;n sobre los antecedentes, moderadores y mediadores de la efectividad de los equipos virtuales globales. El segundo dominio explora la investigaci & oacute;n individual y organizacional sobre diversos arreglos de trabajo distribuido, como la deslocalizaci & oacute;n (offshoring), plataformas globales y n & oacute;madas globales. El tercer dominio aborda los roles habilitadores y moderadores que las tecnolog & iacute;as digitales desempe & ntilde;an en facilitar el trabajo virtual global. Sintetizando la investigaci & oacute;n previa, desarrollamos un marco conceptual multinivel que integra insumos, procesos y resultados del trabajo virtual global, ofreciendo nuevas perspectivas. Delineamos oportunidades prometedoras para investigaciones futuras en cuatro temas: personas, tecnolog & iacute;a, contexto y tiempo. Adicionalmente, examinamos las implicaciones pr & aacute;cticas de nuestros hallazgos para los formuladores de pol & iacute;ticas, gerentes y trabajadores individuales mientras navegan el paisaje evolutivo del trabajo virtual global. A digitaliza & ccedil;& atilde;o e as disrup & ccedil;& otilde;es globais mudaram fundamentalmente a forma pela qual abordamos o trabalho. O trabalho virtual global tornou-se cada vez mais comum nos & uacute;ltimos anos, frequentemente substituindo ou complementando expatria & ccedil;& atilde;o tradicional e viagens de neg & oacute;cios internacionais. Para avan & ccedil;ar na compreens & atilde;o desse fen & ocirc;meno, revisamos sistematicamente a literatura sobre trabalho virtual global, dividindo-o em tr & ecirc;s dom & iacute;nios: equipes virtuais globais, trabalho distribu & iacute;do e o uso de tecnologias digitais. Para cada dom & iacute;nio, examinamos principais atores, seus objetivos, teorias subjacentes, metodologias e descobertas. O primeiro dom & iacute;nio oferece insights sobre os antecedentes, moderadores e mediadores da efic & aacute;cia das equipes virtuais globais. O segundo dom & iacute;nio explora pesquisas individuais e organizacionais sobre diversas formas de trabalho distribu & iacute;do, como offshoring, plataformas globais e n & ocirc;mades globais. O terceiro dom & iacute;nio aborda pap & eacute;is habilitadores e moderadores que as tecnologias digitais desempenham na facilita & ccedil;& atilde;o do trabalho virtual global. Sintetizando pesquisas anteriores, desenvolvemos um modelo conceitual multin & iacute;vel que integra entradas, processos e resultados do trabalho virtual global, oferecendo perspectivas inovadoras. Delineamos oportunidades promissoras para pesquisas futuras em quatro temas: pessoas, tecnologia, contexto e tempo. Al & eacute;m disso, examinamos implica & ccedil;& otilde;es pr & aacute;ticas de nossas descobertas para formuladores de pol & iacute;ticas, gestores e trabalhadores individuais a medida em que navegam no cen & aacute;rio em evolu & ccedil;& atilde;o do trabalho virtual global. 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