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Leadership at a Distance: Research in Technologically-Supported Work

Leading groups from a distance: How to mitigate consequences of geographic dispersion

Publication ,  Chapter
Cummings, JN
January 1, 2013

What should work-group leaders make sure to do when members are geographically dispersed rather than collocated? This chapter offers a simple answer that group leaders often fail to appreciate—communicate frequently with members. Researchers have demonstrated a variety of negative consequences of geographic dispersion for work groups, such as mutual knowledge problems and work coordination difficulties. However, leaders of dispersed groups may be able to mitigate some of these consequences through increased communication with members. Empirical evidence from 129 work groups in a global organization supports this claim and suggests that frequent informal contact may be a key to leading dispersed groups.

Duke Scholars

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Publication Date

January 1, 2013

Start / End Page

31 / 50
 

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Cummings, J. N. (2013). Leading groups from a distance: How to mitigate consequences of geographic dispersion. In Leadership at a Distance: Research in Technologically-Supported Work (pp. 31–50). https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203809686

DOI

Publication Date

January 1, 2013

Start / End Page

31 / 50