Navigating Virtual Connections: Exploring the Impact of Workplace Friendship on Team Performance During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aims to investigate the influence of virtual work friendships on knowledge sharing and team performance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, it explores whether perceived task interdependence moderates this relationship. A survey-based research design was employed to collect data from 213 individuals working in IT-based firms. Data were collected in two time lags to capture the dynamics of virtual work friendships, knowledge sharing and team performance. The study reveals a positive and significant relationship between virtual work friendships and team performance. Furthermore, knowledge sharing acts as a mediator between virtual friendships and team performance. Managers should actively promote friendship among employees to enhance virtual work environments. Additionally, when task interdependence is perceived highly, leveraging social resources both virtually and physically can further enhance team performance. This research contributes to the social capital theory by examining the effects of virtual work friendships on team performance in the modern workplace. It is the first study to investigate the moderating role of task interdependence in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]