Bismi-Allahi Ar-Rahmani, Ar-Raheem
With Allah’s willing, after many years, I have finally managed to turn my dissertation into a book. It took me two years to finish this challenging journey of turning my research findings on global virtual teams and culture into practical implications that, I hope, will be useful to scholars and practitioners. Neither the research nor the book-writing journey would have been possible without the countless help, guidance, and support of my beloved people around me: my beloved spouse—Associate Professor Dr. Shafiz Affendi Mohd Yusof, my parents and in-laws, family members, and colleagues. Let me also extend my deepest appreciation to my former advisor, Dr. Derrick L. Cogburn, who has been instrumental in making the PhD journey less painful and more successful. He has been extremely supportive both as a friend and as a mentor. My deepest appreciation also goes to my committee members: Dr. Ruth Small, who has been a source of motivation to me and has often said, “You can do it!” with a reassuring look, Dr. Michelle Kaarst-Brown, who has been a friend and has offered a helping hand over many wonderful lunches, and Dr. Carsten Osterlund, who offered a listening ear and said, “You just have to do it.” Additionally, I owe a debt to my readers, Dr. Milton Mueller and Dr. David Wilemon, who have diligently read my drafts and dissertation and provided constructive comments. Not forgetting, a dear friend, Dr. Emilie Gould, who has been my teacher and a good friend over the years, thank you for believing in me; my editor—Michele Rothen—who has helped me clarify what I wanted to say in a more concise manner; my IST-Syracuse University friends, especially the Golden Girls—our reading club, which tremendously supported me; my research assistant—Nursakirah Ab Rahman Muton—who turned the drafts into the right format, and my long-term virtual international research partner, Andrea Amelinckx, at the University of Lethbridge, Canada for working in sync with me despite being thousands of miles apart.