ABSTRACT
Virtual teams collaborating from different locations have become the modus operandi during the COVID-19 pandemic and are likely to remain important forms of organisation for the foreseeable future. Media choice theories aim to facilitate computer-mediated communication by prescribing which particular communication media are most suitable for certain types of tasks. However, these theories neglect a distinguishing feature of many virtual teams in today’s globalised workplaces: language diversity. This chapter reviews empirical studies demonstrating that core propositions of media richness theory and media synchronicity theory are reversed as soon as virtual team members face language barriers. On this basis, the authors propose a future research agenda at the intersection of team diversity, virtual teamwork and computer-mediated communication. They also offer recommendations in regard to how virtual team leaders may promote team efficiency and how corporations may optimise their media infrastructure.
