Understanding Shared Mental Models in Virtual Teams: Key Insights and Future Directions

As virtual teams become increasingly prevalent in today’s globalized and technology-driven environments, shared mental models (SMMs) are crucial for enhancing collaboration and performance. We conducted a systematic review of existing literature (2004–2023) to understand how SMMs have been investigated in virtual settings and methods for measuring them. Studies were coded based on information and communication technology (ICT) tools, team characteristics, types of SMMs, and the Input-Process-Output (I-P-O) framework. Findings show diverse SMMs impact team functioning, but measurement methods lack standardization, highlighting the need for innovative approaches. This study underscores gaps in the literature and suggests avenues for future exploration.