Creative Process within Globally Distributed Teams: Brazil, Sweden, France and India

Abstract

The current complexity of economic, social, technological and business environments in which modern organizations are inserted have determined new forms of working relationships and configurations. This has in turn triggered numerous studies and comparative analyses about the processes enveloped by these new working patterns. The aim of this study is to explore and analyse how the creative process unfolds in globally distributed teams. Using a qualitative approach, we presented a case study conducted within Volvo 3P projects and more specifically the New Product Development team based in Brazil, which works alongside teams distributed in Sweden, France and India. Our empirical evidence shows that whilst individuals are the core element of the creative process in collocated teams; in globally distributed teams the fundamental foundation of the creative process is the organization.