I och med den pågående globaliseringen ökar trycket på företag och organisationer attminska sina kostnader och nyttja sina kompetenser mer effektivt. Ett sätt att göra detta äratt använda sig av ett globalt virtuellt team. En av de mest fundamentala förutsättningarnaför ett framgångsrikt arbete i ett sådant team är tillit mellan medlemmarna och i skapandetav tillit är kommunikation en viktig del. Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka vilkenbetydelse olika sorters kommunikation har för skapandet av tillit samt den tillit som redanexisterar mellan medlemmar i ett globalt virtuellt team. För att undersöka detta har materialsamlats in genom semi-strukturerade intervjuer som sedan har analyserats med hjälp avrelevant teori. Resultaten visar att alla de undersökta kommunikationssätten på något sätt,om än i olika utsträckning, påverkar tilliten mellan medlemmarna. Särskilt stor roll visadesig fysiska möten spela då de flesta respondenter uppgav att detta var något sompåverkade, alternativt skulle kunna påverka, tilliten. Även social kommunikation visade sigha stor påverkan på tilliten.

Earlier research has identified challenges in leading global virtual teams (GVTs). However, when the Covid-19 pandemic hit the world globally, even GVTs had to shift to work from home instead of an office. Hence, the purpose of this thesis is to investigate how challenges of leading GVTs have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Identified challenges, including before the pandemic and additional ones that were recognized during it, are introduced. The thesis implements semi-structured interviews with leaders of GVTs to get results in line with the purpose. The results indicate that existing challenges have changed depending on what industry the GVT works in and what restrictions members face due to the pandemic. Additionally, the new challenges that were experienced during the pandemic are distractions, work/life balance, and dealing with isolation. Further challenges are having the right equipment to work comfortably, recruiting and onboarding new staff / Tidigare undersökningar har identifierat utmaningar med att leda globala virtuella team (GVT). När Covid-19 pandemin drabbade världen över påverkade det till och med GVT, som därefter behövde arbeta hemifrån istället för på ett kontor. Denna uppsats syftar därmed till att undersöka hur utmaningar med att leda GVTs har påverkats av Covid-19 pandemin. Utmaningar med att leda GVTs har identifierats i tidigare studier och inkluderar både innan pandemin och nya som har uppstått under den. För att undersöka detta genomförs semi- strukturerade intervjuer med ledare av GVTs. Resultaten indikerar att befintliga utmaningar har förändrats beroende på vilken bransch teamet arbetar i och vilka restriktioner medlemmarna står inför på grund av pandemin. Dessutom är de nya utmaningarna som uppkommit under pandemin distraktioner, balansen mellan arbete och fritid, och att hantera isolering. Ytterligare utmaningar är att de anställda har rätt utrustning för att arbeta bekvämt, rekrytering och att introducera nyanställda.

A determinação de características dinâmicas de estruturas aeronáuticas é um assunto extremamente importante na indústria aeroespacial, principalmente devido à demanda contínua para estruturas mais leves e conseqüentemente mais flexíveis. Neste contexto, estruturas aeroespaciais precisam ser submetidas a alguma forma de verificação modal antes do vôo, para assegurar que a aeronave é livre de fenômenos aeroelásticos indesejáveis. Esta análise freqüentemente inclui a identificação experimental de características dinâmicas como freqüência natural, fatores de amortecimento e forma dos modos usando ensaio modal. Neste trabalho foi realizado um ensaio de vibração no solo em uma asa metálica da aeronave Neiva Regente para obtenção das funções resposta em freqüência da estrutura. O método de identificação utilizado para este estudo é o Algoritmo de Realização de Sistemas – ERA. É um método de identificação considerado eficiente e poderoso, pois é capaz de identificar estruturas que apresentem comportamento dinâmico complexo. O algoritmo foi validado através de uma simulação de um modelo hipotético e de dados experimentais de uma viga de alumínio. Os resultados experimentais, porém, apresentam modos computacionais que devem ser eliminados. Para tanto foram utilizados três índices de confiança para qualificar os resultados, sendo estes: Colinearidade de Fase Modal Ponderada (MPCW), Coerência da Amplitude Modal Estendida (EMAC) e Indicador de Consistência Modal (CMI). Os modos que apresentaram melhores índices de confiança são considerados o resultado final do processo de identificação. Desta forma, o processo de identificação foi aplicado para a semi-asa da aeronave Neiva Regente. A identificação revelou-se mais difícil, basicamente devido à complexidade da estrutura somado-se a problemas de ruído, o que levou a um número pequeno de modos identificados / The determination of the dynamic characteristics of aircraft structures has become an extremely important issue in the aerospace industry, primarily due to the continuous demand for lighter and consequently more flexible structures. In this context, most aerospace structural system must be subjected to some form of modal verification prior to flight in order to ensure that the aircraft is free from any dangerous aeroelastic instability phenomena. The verification procedure often includes the experimental identification of structural characteristics such as the natural frequency, damping factors and normal modes using modal testing. In this work, a ground vibration testing (GVT) of a metallic wing of the Neiva Regente aircraft was accomplished in order to assess the frequency response functions. The basic identification method used for this study is the Eigensystem Realization Algorithm – ERA. It is an identification method, which is considered efficient and powerful, because it is capable to identify structures that present complex dynamic behaviour. The algorithm was valited through data obtained from a simulation of a hypothetical model and dynamic measurement accomplished in an aluminium beam. The experimental results, nevertheless, present computacional modes that must be removed from the model. Three confidence factors were used to qualify the results, namely the Modal Phase Collinearity – Weighted (MPCW), Extended Modal Amplitude Coherence (EMAC) and Consistent-Mode Indicator (CMI). The modes that presented higher confidence factor values were considered as the final result of the identification process. Then, the identificatin process was applied to a semi-wing of the Neiva Regente aircraft. This case has revealed a much harder identification procedure, where the complexity of the structure plus noisy data have led to a small number of identified modes

Research Aim: The aim of this study is to identify specific challenges impeding effective communication in a Global Virtual Team (GVT) operating in the energy sector. Research Method: This study uses a qualitative method, focusing on a single case study at the energy company Uniper. Data was obtained through 21 semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Results: Despite considerable developments in Information Communication Technology (ICT) over the last three decades, GVT still faces multiple communication challenges. Geographically dispersed teams are struggling to create team coherence and team efficiency. GVT needs additional attention from both corporations and academics in order for companies to successfully implement and reap the benefits of their virtual operations. Research limitations: A multiple case study approach which compares several corporations would be of interest. By extending the research scope, communication challenges can be better understood and awareness of how obstacles can be addressed will be improved. Practical implications: The presented findings acknowledge the existing challenges facing teams which operate in a virtual setting. This will allow corporations to be more aware of GVT challenges whilst minimizing or eliminating existing GVT challenges. Originality: This research aims to complement existing research focusing on extending knowledge about still existing GVT communication challenges.

A determinação de características dinâmicas de estruturas aeronáuticas é um assunto extremamente importante na indústria aeroespacial, principalmente devido à demanda contínua para estruturas mais leves e conseqüentemente mais flexíveis. Neste contexto, estruturas aeroespaciais precisam ser submetidas a alguma forma de verificação modal antes do vôo, para assegurar que a aeronave é livre de fenômenos aeroelásticos indesejáveis. Esta análise freqüentemente inclui a identificação experimental de características dinâmicas como freqüência natural, fatores de amortecimento e forma dos modos usando ensaio modal. Neste trabalho foi realizado um ensaio de vibração no solo em uma asa metálica da aeronave Neiva Regente para obtenção das funções resposta em freqüência da estrutura. O método de identificação utilizado para este estudo é o Algoritmo de Realização de Sistemas – ERA. É um método de identificação considerado eficiente e poderoso, pois é capaz de identificar estruturas que apresentem comportamento dinâmico complexo. O algoritmo foi validado através de uma simulação de um modelo hipotético e de dados experimentais de uma viga de alumínio. Os resultados experimentais, porém, apresentam modos computacionais que devem ser eliminados. Para tanto foram utilizados três índices de confiança para qualificar os resultados, sendo estes: Colinearidade de Fase Modal Ponderada (MPCW), Coerência da Amplitude Modal Estendida (EMAC) e Indicador de Consistência Modal (CMI). Os modos que apresentaram melhores índices de confiança são considerados o resultado final do processo de identificação. Desta forma, o processo de identificação foi aplicado para a semi-asa da aeronave Neiva Regente. A identificação revelou-se mais difícil, basicamente devido à complexidade da estrutura somado-se a problemas de ruído, o que levou a um número pequeno de modos identificados / The determination of the dynamic characteristics of aircraft structures has become an extremely important issue in the aerospace industry, primarily due to the continuous demand for lighter and consequently more flexible structures. In this context, most aerospace structural system must be subjected to some form of modal verification prior to flight in order to ensure that the aircraft is free from any dangerous aeroelastic instability phenomena. The verification procedure often includes the experimental identification of structural characteristics such as the natural frequency, damping factors and normal modes using modal testing. In this work, a ground vibration testing (GVT) of a metallic wing of the Neiva Regente aircraft was accomplished in order to assess the frequency response functions. The basic identification method used for this study is the Eigensystem Realization Algorithm – ERA. It is an identification method, which is considered efficient and powerful, because it is capable to identify structures that present complex dynamic behaviour. The algorithm was valited through data obtained from a simulation of a hypothetical model and dynamic measurement accomplished in an aluminium beam. The experimental results, nevertheless, present computacional modes that must be removed from the model. Three confidence factors were used to qualify the results, namely the Modal Phase Collinearity – Weighted (MPCW), Extended Modal Amplitude Coherence (EMAC) and Consistent-Mode Indicator (CMI). The modes that presented higher confidence factor values were considered as the final result of the identification process. Then, the identificatin process was applied to a semi-wing of the Neiva Regente aircraft. This case has revealed a much harder identification procedure, where the complexity of the structure plus noisy data have led to a small number of identified modes

The increase of globalization of business led to the creation of global virtual software development teams in which communication plays an important role. The lack of recent studies raises the need to investigate communication in the context of agile and the current Covid-19 pandemic. This study identifies in literature three factors present in global virtual software development teams: technology, culture, and trust. It aims to explore how they influence internal communication. A qualitative method is conducted on a case study by combining data collected from semi-structured interviews and observations. The case study is a global virtual software development team which implemented the agile Scrum methodology. The findings provide a deep understanding of the positive and negative influences of the factors on communication, including their interrelations and context. Some of the main findings are: (I) the best set up for collaboration among global team members is the combination of synchronous and asynchronous communication through technological tools, (II) cultural diversity leads to differences in the ways members communicate, (III) trust is the precondition of working collaboratively and communicating effectively, (IV) global team members need to occasionally have in-person interactions to nurture their interpersonal relations, (V) the agile Scrum methodology influences internal communication positively, (VI) each communication factor is influenced by time; thus, the theoretical framework developed for this study is updated with this addition, (VII) the Covid- 19 pandemic affects communication to a certain extent.

Syfte: Det finns en växande trend med ökad kulturell mångfald i samhället, organisationer och inom individer. Bikulturalism innebär specifik kompetens som underlättar ett relationsbyggande inom kulturell mångfald. Arbete organiseras dock ofta virtuellt, vilket försvårar relationsbyggandet. Syftet är att skapa ökad förståelse om bikulturella ledare och deras ledarskap i globala virtuella grupper (GVG). Hur visar sig bikulturella ledares kulturella kompetens i GVG?    Metod: En kvalitativ fallstudie som görs i en global organisation, marknadsledare inom sin sektor. Organisationen värdesätter mångfald och erbjuder en intressant kontext för studien. Studien antar ett abduktivt angreppssätt och semistrukturerade intervjuer gjordes med bikulturella ledare inom GVG. Teman identifierades från resultaten och presenteras under kategorier som kan härledas till teori om kulturell intelligens, CQ.  Resultat & slutsats: Studien bekräftar tidigare forskning (Hong, 2010) om att bikulturella ledare, tack vare sin kulturella kompetens, är bra på att bygga relationer inom kulturell mångfald. Studiens resultat visar att detta även gäller inom en virtuell kontext.  Examensarbetets bidrag: Resultaten visar att relationer byggs virtuellt genom strategier för informell interaktion. Vår studie bidrar med två nya insikter. För det första, hur mer spontana virtuella informella möten kan skapas i praktiken, vilket är relevant för organisationer som arbetar i virtuella kontexter. För det andra, en ny insikt som inte har uppmärksammats i tidigare forskning om att virtuella informella möten också har fördelar som bidrar positivt till gruppens sammanhållning.  Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Studiens resultat kan förstärkas genom studier inom andra typer av organisationer. Vidare kan kvantitativa metoder resultera i större generaliseringar av resultaten. / Aim: There is a growing trend of cultural diversity in the society, organizations and within individuals. Biculturalism means competence that facilitates relationship building in cultural diversity. Work is often organized virtually, which complicates the building of relations. The aim is to create more understanding about bicultural leaders and their leadership in global virtual teams (GVT). How does bicultural leaders’ cultural competence manifest in GVT?  Method: Qualitative case study in a global organization, a market leader in its sector. The organization values diversity and provides an interesting context. An abductive approach is used and semi-structured interviews were conducted with bicultural leaders in GVT. Recurrent themes were identified from the results and are presented under categories, derived from theory about cultural intelligence, CQ.  Result & Conclusions: This study confirms earlier research (Hong, 2010) that bicultural leaders, due to their cultural competence, are skillful in building relations within cultural diversity. The results show moreover, that this is also true in a virtual context.   Contribution of the thesis: The results reveal that relations are built virtually by using strategies for informal interaction. Our study contributes with two new insights. Firstly, how more spontaneous virtual informal meetings can be created in practice, which is relevant for organizations working in virtual contexts. Secondly, a new insight that has not been given attention in earlier research, that virtual informal meetings also have advantages that positively contributes to group cohesion.  Suggestions for future research: The results can be confirmed with studies in other types of organizations. Quantitative methods can result in larger generalizations.

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