Purpose - The aim of the paper is to understand how management is affected by having the customer as a member of the global virtual team within agile work methods. Research Method - This research is based on a qualitative methodological choice, and an embedded single case study conducted through a cross-sectional time horizon. The research is based on primary and secondary data. The primary data has been collected from management, employees, and customer, through semi- and in depth interviews, and observations in Sri Lanka. Secondary data is conceptualized from literature in the Global Virtual Team research field. Results - A customer is seen as a colleague and a critical team member, where the developers and management work closely with the customer. However, the customer is not fully seen as a traditional colleague. The customer’s influence outweighs the influence of the supplier, resulting in a dynamic shift of influence towards the customer. Not allowing the dynamic shift, i.e. not increasing attention towards the customer significantly, could result in a loss of business. Furthermore, the background of the customer affects the manager’s role as a Bridge Maker. How efficient the collaboration turns out within the team is dependent on the customer background, and how well the management allocates time and efforts accordingly. Research limitations - Due to time and resource limits, and the depth scope of the study, only one case firm and one customer laid the basis of this paper. Further investigation of how management is affected by having the customer as a member of the global virtual team could be the direction of future studies. Practical implications - The findings allow management to allocate their time and resources more effectively cross projects and increase the understanding of how the firm is affected by having the customer as a member of the team in the global virtual team setting. As a result, it will potentially increase the overall success of the company. Originality/value - This study supplies the contribution to existing management literature as it includes an external stakeholder, the customer, in the global virtual team, which is a growing phenomenon that has not been captured by current literature. Keywords - Global teams, Virtual teams, Multicultural teams, Customer as a team member, Bridge Maker, Team leadership, Biculturalism, Agile work process Paper type – Master thesis

Companies from across the globe move from traditional towards virtual organisations to be able to respond effectively to developments and changes in the global economy. As a consequence, the leadership of virtual teams will evolve as one of the major challenges future leaders will have to face. Hence, this triggers a growing demand in knowledge and understanding of virtual teams from both science and practice. So far, there is only basic research available on key elements of virtual teaming and limited literature on the leadership of virtual teams. With the increasing significance of a corporate culture in organisations, science will want to investigate its impact on virtual team leadership. Shedding light into this matter is hence this dissertation\''s main objective. After a thorough literature review and a pre-study, a leading EURO STOXX 50 company which has rolled out a global corporate culture in the past years was investigated using interviews with experienced virtual team leaders. Their experiences from before and after the introduction of a global corporate culture were assessed and analysed. Finally, focus groups were conducted to validate the results. In order to provide a holistic picture of the influence of a global corporate culture on the leaders of virtual teams, each empirical component follows a three phase sequence. First, it seeks to understand the environment of a virtual team leader, aiming specifically at investigating how the corporate culture shifts the behaviour of virtual team members. In the next phase, it focuses on how virtual leaders then react to the shift in team member behaviour. The last phase focuses on how the leaders are directly influenced by the global corporate culture themselves. The results of the study show that a common global corporate culture positively influences the collaboration of virtual team members and increases harmony between them. This leads to higher team performance. In response to this shift in team behaviour as well as due to the direct impact of the corporate culture, the leader himself switches gradually from a transactional towards a transformational leadership style, thereby again increasing the performance of the team. The results of the empirical research are channelled into a final product, namely detailed best practices for virtual team leaders on how to develop themselves and their team into effective virtual collaborators. This model uses corporate culture as a catalyst.

Background: Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the associated restrictions and recommendations has forced a transition into a more digital and virtual environment. Thus, businesses have faced numerous challenges regarding both leading and working at a distance. Leading to an increased need for digital skills and new ways of working, as has been advocated by successful international consulting firms. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop the research about distance leadership, leadership in virtual and digital contexts, and leadership in crisis. Thus, the aim was to investigate and compare team leadership, such as it was before the recommendation and restrictions caused by COVID-19, with the present. Research question: How has the forced digital transformation affected the team leadership from the perspective of both leaders and employees? Methodology: A case study was conducted in which semi-structured interviews, a collection of background information and data from an internal personnel survey was used to gather in-depth information. Conclusion: The results from the case study indicated three main challenges: internal communication, the need for combined and adaptable leadership, and the observed outcomes from the relation-oriented and task-oriented behaviors.

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本研究旨在瞭解臺北市公立幼稚園園長人格特質與團隊領導能力之內涵與現況，探討其兩者之間的關係，進而探討臺北市公立幼稚園園長人格特質對團隊領導能力的影響。 本研究方法主要為訪談法以及問卷調查法，問卷調查樣本以臺北市公立幼稚園園長及教師為研究對象，共500位，樣本回收290份，回收率為58%，可用樣本為287份，可用率為57.4%。研究工具為「臺北市公立幼稚園園長團隊領導能力調查問卷」，主要包括兩大部分，首先是參考Saucier(1994)所編製的「Mini-Markers」(五大人格特質精簡量表)，經翻譯與題意修正後發展成適用於國內的「臺北市公立幼稚園園長人格特質量表」，第二，則是自編之「臺北市公立幼稚園園長團隊領導能力量表」。本研究所使用的統計方法包含描述性統計分析、單因子變異數分析(One-way ANOVA)、皮爾森積差相關(Pearson’s product -moment correlation)、逐步多元迴歸分析(Stepwise Multiple Regression)等方法進行分析。根據研究結果與分析後歸納之研究結論如下： 一、臺北市公立幼稚園園長人格特質與團隊領導能力的內涵及現況 (一)臺北市公立幼稚園園長人格特質包含活潑外向、友善隨和、負責認真、情緒穩定、經驗敞開等五大向度；其整體和分向度得分均為中上，其中以「友善隨和」得分最高，「經驗敞開」得分最低。 (二)臺北市公立幼稚園園長團隊領導能力包含核心領導能力、團隊塑造能力、人際智能與問題解決能力等三大向度；其整體和分向度得分均為中上，其中以「人際智能與問題解決能力」得分最高，「團隊塑造能力」得分最低。 二、不同背景變項在臺北市公立幼稚園園長人格特質與團隊領導能力之差異情形 (一)不同背景變項在臺北市公立幼稚園園長人格特質的得分方面：研究發現在最高學歷、園長年資及園所規模有顯著差異，年齡和服務年資沒有顯著差異。 (二)不同背景變項在臺北市公立幼稚園園長團隊領導能力的得分方面：研究發現在園所規模有顯著差異，而年齡、最高學歷、服務年資、園長年資等方面無顯著差異。 三、臺北市公立幼稚園園長人格特質與團隊領導能力之相關情形 臺北市公立幼稚園園長整體人格特質與整體團隊領導能力之間呈顯著高度正相關(r=.810，p＜.01)，人格特質各分向度與團隊領導能力各分向度之間皆呈顯著正相關。 四、臺北市公立幼稚園園長人格特質對團隊領導能力之預測情形 臺北市公立幼稚園園長人格特質之經驗敞開、負責認真、友善隨和、活潑外向等聯合四個向度對整體團隊領導能力、核心領導能力、團隊塑造能力有顯著的預測力，而經驗敞開、友善隨和及負責認真等聯合三個向度對人際智能與問題解決能力有顯著的預測力，其中團隊領導能力及其分向度皆以經驗敞開最具預測力。 最後，本研究根據研究發現，提出相關建議，俾供臺北市教育行政機關、臺北市公立幼稚園園長以及後續研究參考。 / The main purpose of this study was to investigate personality traits and team leadership competencies of directors for public kindergarten in Taipei City, and to explore the relationship between personality traits and team leadership competencies, and to discuss personality traits how to influence team leadership competencies. The survey method included interview and questionnaires investigation. Participants in this study were teachers and directors for public kindergarten in Taipei City, and the number of participants were 500, and 290 samples(58%) were retrieved, and 287 valid samples(57.4%) were used in this study. The measures included Mini –Markers that made by Saucier (1994) and team leadership competencies questionnaire that made by author. Data were analyzed by description statistics, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s product -moment correlation and Stepwise Multiple Regression. Based on the statistics analysis of the questionnaire, this study finds reaches the following results: A.In the aspect of personality traits and team leadership competencies of directors for public kindergarten in Taipei City: 1.The personality traits include five parts: (1) Extraversion, (2) Agreeableness,(3) Conscientiousness,(4) Emotional stability,(5) Openness to Experience. The perception of directors and teachers were above average agreement of the five parts. For directors, the best dimension is “Agreeableness”, and the worst dimension is “Openness to Experience”. 2.The team leadership competencies include three parts: (1) Core Leadership,(2) Team Building,(3) Interpersonal Intelligence and Problem-Solving. The perception of directors and teachers were above average agreement of the three parts. For directors, the best dimension is “Interpersonal Intelligence and Problem-Solving”, and the worst dimension is “Team Building”. B.The influences of personality traits and team leadership competencies of directors for public kindergarten in Taipei City: 1.Personality Traits: highest educational degree, years of director service, and school size have significant influences on personality traits. But director’s age and years of service do not have any significant influences. 2.Team Leadership Competencies: school size has significant influences on team leadership competencies. But director’s age, highest educational degree, years of service, and years of director service do not have any significant influences. C.In the aspect of relationship between personality traits and team leadership competencies of directors for public kindergarten in Taipei City: 1.There is a significant and positive correlation between personality traits and team leadership competencies. 2.Personality traits (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Openness to Experience) do promote team leadership competencies, especially Openness to Experience.

Twenty-first century schools are complex organizations that serve individual students’ needs while meeting accountability and assessment demands. Effective leadership balances these diverse responsibilities through collective work of the shareholders in order to assure high levels of learning for all. This qualitative study examined Response to Intervention (RTI) implementation in two high performing high schools in Kentucky. Both schools were classified as distinguished on the 2014-15 Kentucky School Report Card. One school has a long-standing tradition of high performance. The other school’s journey to high performance involved moving from a Needs Improvement School to a School of Distinction. The 4-D Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Theory was used to explore the collective leadership practices of the two high schools. Data collection instruments and protocols followed the four AI phases (discover, dream, design, and deliver). Data were collected through observations, site visits, artifact reviews, individual interviews and and focus groups. The effective schools characteristics, RTI core traits, and collective leadership practices provided the context for the study design. In studying the RTI implementation process, evidence of effective schools characteristics, RTI core traits, and collective leadership practices were observed. Both schools focused intentionally on core instruction as an integral part of the RTI implementation process. The data concluded that the schools continue to make progress in meeting more students’ needs. Both schools have strategic plans to discover, dream, design, and deliver new ways to maximize the collective strengths of the school community. Evidence of each phase of AI emerged in the stories, conversations, and artifacts at both schools.

Sales leaders who can foster sales team engagement drive an organization's sales performance. Some information technology sales leaders lack team engagement strategies that support revenue results above market growth rates. The purpose of this qualitative, single-case study was to explore the team engagement strategies of 6 sales leaders, in various offices in the Asia-Pacific region of a single, public information technology company, who demonstrated the ability to support year-on-year revenue results above market growth rates. Participants demonstrated the ability to foster team engagement and consistently deliver year-on-year revenue results above market growth rates. The conceptual framework for this study was self-determination theory, a macro theory of motivation. Data collection included semistructured interviews with the sales leaders and a review of company documents, including sales plans, sales results by country, and training and recognition programs. Data analysis included keyword coding, category development, and theme identification. Three themes emerged: using extrinsic motivators, activating intrinsic motivators, and catalyzing team engagement. Extrinsic motivators included both tangible and intangible rewards. Intrinsic motivators included encouraging sales team autonomy, developing sales team competence, and fostering sales team relatedness. Implications for positive social change include providing organizations with engagement strategies that sales leaders could use to offer better employee work-life experiences. When sales leaders improve sales team engagement, team members experience psychological benefits, which may enhance the quality of their personal lives as well as the quality of life for members of their families and communities.

Ghana has experienced an unprecedented failure of microfinance institutions. Within a period of 8 years from 2011 to 2019, the Bank of Ghana has revoked the license of over 489 microfinance institutions. The purpose of the exploratory multiple case study was to explore strategies that microfinance managers apply to mitigate the effects of crisis to remain sustainable. The targeted population was composed of owner-managers from 6 microfinance companies in Ghana and 6 consultants who overcame the microfinance crisis and remained in practice. The situational crisis communication theory and the team leadership model were the conceptual frameworks for this study. Methodological triangulation was used to support the review and analysis of data from structured interviews, focus group discussions, and relevant company documents. Data were analyzed using NVivo to provide alphanumeric coding, and thematic analysis was used to support the identification of themes and subthemes, which were organized and linked to the crisis phenomenon to identify the 5 emerged themes: governance, communication, fundraising, cost reduction, and business model strategies. The study findings may contribute to social change by building confidence in the financial system, making microfinance services available to the lower end market. There may be more historical crisis effect mitigation strategies and evidence available to practitioners, entrepreneurs leading to job creation and sustainable businesses globally. These findings could provide insights for business leaders, owners-managers, the board of directors, practitioners and regulatory bodies to develop strategies to help their institutions survive in crises.

CSR approach is getting noticed by more and more scholars and practitioners to assist MNC subsidiaries¡¦ performance and survival. Prahalad (2004) argued MNCs need to be able to explore and exploit opportunities from undeveloped or developing countries in pursuit of their continuous profitability and sustainability. However, how MNC subsidiaries can be organized to approach and discover the local people and social needs from emerging economies is still a question to be answered. Porter & Kramer (2002) proposed strategic CSR approach for firms to getting into sustainability. By all means of strategic CSR, firms truly realize sustainability that simultaneously obtaining economic, social and environmental performance when the CSR activities are practiced from inside out that involves the whole organization, structure, and system, and meanwhile links with firm strategies. This research adopted system perspective incorporating RBV and stakeholder perspective to systematically examine how internal CSR-related processes interact to influence MNC subsidiaries¡¦ sustainability in host country. We accordingly looked into the CSR practices and the related management processes implemented by XI MNC subsidiaries in China and Taiwan through case interviews. We identified that CSR international coordination mechanism, HRM, and TMT leadership are all important processes through which MNC subsidiaries reach sustainability in host countries by CSR practices. Besides, we found that a strong corporate social culture within subsidiaries built up through the abovementioned processes is an important factor that leads to subsidiaries¡¦ sustainability. In addition, we identified stakeholder relational capital derived from these CSR-related processes is another critical, firm-specific resource to facilitate MNC subsidiaries¡¦ sustainable performance. On the whole, the findings upon the case studies of our research proposed a systematic MNC subsidiaries CSR framework that explains how, why, and under which influential factors CSR practices are implemented. This research therefore can contribute to the theoretical developments in CSR theories, RBV, and international management theories as well as firms¡¦ management practices in conducting CSR for sustainability.

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