Effects of Process Feedback on Motivation, Satisfaction, and Performance in Virtual Teams

In virtual teams, the lack of feedback and information about team processes is a major problem. To encounter this challenge of virtual teamwork, team process feedback was provided by an Online-Feedback-System (OFS). It contained feedback regarding motivation, task-related aspects, and relationshiprelated aspects. A longitudinal study of 52 virtual teams with student participants was conducted. Teams that used the OFS showed an increase in performance compared with controls that did not use the OFS. Furthermore, results indicate initial motivation as a moderating variable on the improvement caused by the OFS. Positive OFS effects were found on motivation and satisfaction for the less motivated team members. Furthermore, for less motivated team members, effects of the OFS on performance were mediated by interpersonal trust. Overall, results imply that team process feedback has a positive effect on motivation, satisfaction, and performance in virtual teams.