Froese, F.J., Blay, T., Gibson, C.B. et al. (2 more authors) (2025) Global virtual work: a review, integrative framework, and future research opportunities. Journal of International Business Studies. ISSN 0047-2506
Abstract
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.
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Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s) 2025. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. |
Keywords: | Global virtual work, Global virtual teams, Distributed work, Digital technologies, Global nomads, Gig workers, Systematic literature review, Multilevel model, Future research opportunities |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Business (Leeds) > Work and Employment Relation Division (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 22 May 2025 11:49 |
Last Modified: | 22 May 2025 16:10 |
Published Version: | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41267-0... |
Status: | Published online |
Publisher: | Springer |
Identification Number: | 10.1057/s41267-025-00775-1 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:226923 |
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Licence: CC-BY 4.0