Abstract

Many organizations have embraced a new reality of virtual working, which poses new challenges for leaders. Virtual teaming has numerous advantages, but it also increases the danger of misalignment and lack of cooperation, which may have a negative impact on team trust and employee engagement if not done correctly. Team leaders and organizations must understand the strategies for establishing and maintaining trust in Virtual Project Teams (VPTs) to maintain team members performance after transitioning to decentralized workplaces. This study examines the process of building trust in VPTs by analyzing the factors that influence trust in virtual teams. Qualitative interviews with ten experienced professionals in the Middle East’s construction sectors were conducted to gain insights for the study. The study results revealed that factors influencing trust among VPTs in the Middle East construction sector show some unique attributes. The effects of prominent factors, including organizational culture, communication, diversity, leadership, and task-technology fit, and team member characteristics on trust-building in VPTs were identified. Understanding the interdependence between these factors and trust will help virtual team members remain focused on achieving effectiveness and efficiency in their work.

Keywords: Virtual project teams; Trust; Organizational culture; Construction sector; Market change