Doctoral Dissertations

Abstract

"This dissertation examines the importance of in-person Face-To-Face (FTF) interactions in virtual engineering development projects. The basis for this investigation will be the hypothesis that FTF interactions increase the effectiveness, quality of communication, and the trust between participants beyond that achieved with purely computer mediated communication. Through a combination of a literature review and empirical research, this dissertation addresses the following questions: * How important is FTF interaction in virtual development work? * Do various functional areas and age groups rate the importance of FTF interactions differently? * How does FTF interaction affect the levels of trust and communication within virtual team and between the virtual team members and the organization? * How do FTF interactions affect overall project success? The participants in the research study were experienced engineers, technicians and program managers working in a virtual product development environment at a mid-tier defense contractor. As such, the data obtained can reasonably be extrapolated to the aerospace/defense industry."--Abstract, page iii.

Advisor(s)

Gosavi, Abhijit

Committee Member(s)

Murray, Susan L.
Qin, Ruwen
Smith, Brian Keith
Reeves, Kingsley

Department(s)

Engineering Management and Systems Engineering

Degree Name

Ph. D. in Engineering Management

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Fall 2013

Pagination

xii, 108 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references (pages 103-107).

Rights

© 2013 Lawrence Raymond Blenke, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Virtual work teams
Virtual work teams -- Social aspects
Communication in organizations
Project management
Intellectual cooperation

Thesis Number

T 10384

Electronic OCLC #

870646832

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