Conceptual Model for Challenges and Succession Opportunities for Virtual Project Teams in the GCC

This is a systematic review for designing a conceptual model of the reinforcement factors and the inhibitors of the success of using virtual project teams among geographical and /or organizational dispersed teams. The GCC have common traditions and cultural aspects. The study is trying to answer one main question about the challenges and opportunities for success for depending on virtual project teams in managing GCC projects. Two sub-questions are derived from the main question: what factors do GCC countries have to make virtual project teams succeed? What benefits and obstacles the managers of virtual project teams may have in GCC countries zone? In the first part of this paper, the researchers are analyzing critically the state of the art literature in the field of virtual project teams. In the second part of this paper, the researchers are comparing the findings of previous researches with the GCC published reports issued by official organizations. The objective of this study is to come up with recommendations about the future practical research variables that measure the success or failure of virtual project teams in the GCC context. Researchers discussed challenges like resources allocation and decentralization of responsibility as well as opportunities for success like having better cost controlled projects and more efficient time management. The purpose of the study is to design a tailored customized conceptual model for the context of GCC to conceptualize the possible positive and negative relationships that determine the potential of success of VPT in this region. The problem of the research is a scarcity problem. It is focused on the scarcity of research contribution to the conceptualization of a model for VPM succession however; the documents reveal that there is a real need for VPM in general and especially for the GCC region. The solution to this problem in this research is represented in the generation of a new model which is customized to the characteristics of GCC and how these characteristics are related in a way that motivates further virtual cooperation and succession. The paper provides conceptualization of possible relationships between number of major constructs like efficiency of virtual communication and coordination, cultural re-approchement, and the cost of VPT functioning. The economic and political instability of the GCC environment is a real motive to use the results of this study for further investigation on the potential of success VPT in GCC.