Proceedings of 40th International Business Research Conference 9 - 10 January 2017, Flora Grand Hotel, Dubai, UAE ISBN: 978-1-925488-27-2
Adapting the Input-Mediators-Output-Input (IMOI) Model to Measure Virtual Teams’ Performance and Satisfaction within the United Arab Emirates Samah Khalil The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is considered a major economic hub in the MENA region making it a home to many multinational companies (Sbia et al., 2014). Due to the advancement in communication technology and extended globalization, many of the multinational companies operating within the UAE are using virtual teams. This research proposal attempts to explore the applicability of the Input-Mediators-Output-Input (IMOI) as a foundation to examine the performance of virtual teams within companies working within the UAE (Ilgen et al., 2005). This model was selected because it extends the Input-Process-Output model in identifying cognitive states as mediating factors not just processes that influence the performance of virtual teams as well as their satisfaction. The proposed model identifies culture, leadership, technology and training as inputs, communication, trust and feedback as mediating factors, and virtual team performance and satisfaction as outputs. These factors were selected from a wider set of variables identified by (Martins and Schilpzand, 2011) from a comprehensive review of literature on global virtual teams. However, the researcher selected those IMOI factors that seemed most relevant to the population under investigation. This conceptual study contributes to the body of literature via adapting a proposed model that incorporate factors such as culture to measure an emerging economic factor i.e. UAE nationals as virtual team members. There is not much research conducted within the UAE even though its global economic presence has been realized (Stephens Balakrishnan, 2013). The study recommends collecting data through in depth interviews with UAE nationals who are working in multinational companies who are part of virtual teams or had experience with virtual teamwork.
_________________________________________________________________ Samah Khalil, Ph.D., Higher Colleges of Technology, Faculty of Business, Dubai Men’s College, United Arab Emirates, P.O. Box 15825, Email:
[email protected]
