Relationships among team members in virtual
environments have influenced the performance of a team to a vast extent.
Previous attempts to study this phenomenon have made it possible for us to
understand different factors that influence relationship development. However,
how does the process of relationship development unfolds over the life of a
virtual team is still unknown to a large extent.

This study focuses on understanding the process
through which relationships develop over time around communication. It focuses
on the Adaptive structuration by analyzing the structural and human agency
elements of communication. This study follows a process approach while using
group development theories and generative mechanisms as method tools to perform
analysis of qualitative data collected over two years.

The study concludes that while performing different
tasks, central to team members’ performance is communication. The structures
and human elements around communication play a significant role in relationship
development. It provides an overview of the multiple processes based on group
development models that influence relationship development. Understanding these
processes can help managers and team leaders to manage their teams for optimal
performance better. Relationship development takes different trajectories
during the life span of these teams. Relationships tend to develop positively
and get reinforced over time; in the second case, relationships develop
negatively and tend to get reinforced over time; in the third case
relationships initially develop positively however in later stages, take on a
negative trajectory. In the last case, initially, relationships develop
negatively but in, later on, take a positive trajectory.