An Exploration of How Virtual Working Impacts on the Psychological Contracts of Globally Dispersed Teams, and How Talent Management Strategies Can Be Optimised Accordingly

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of remote work have accelerated the need for businesses to reassess their talent management strategies, particularly for globally dispersed teams. This study explores the impact of virtual work on psychological contracts within FinAfrica (anonymised), a pan-African fintech company, and proposes strategies to mitigate perceived breaches. Utilizing a qualitative research approach, the study involved semi-structured interviews with both internal and external respondents. Findings reveal that trust, onboarding, and alignment of organizational values are critical to maintaining positive psychological contracts in virtual teams. This paper offers recommendations to enhance talent management practices in virtual contexts, along with insights for future research.