Comunicação e eficácia numa equipa virtual: regras e afinidade

The aim of this paper is to show, through the analysis of an actual international virtual team, the growing importance of collective work in the global economy, as well as the virtualization of cooperation using ICT’s as material providers of communication. Concerning the methodology, a descriptive and exploratory approach was adopted, in which quantitative and qualitative research instruments were applied, highlighting in this context the use of primary source material, namely the collection of electronic messages exchanged between team members during the process of team formation and consolidation. The data analysis suggest that the team failed to establish formal rules of communication, which negatively influenced work efficiency, but simultaneously it was able to partially overcome the problem through the progressive building of affinity and trust.