知識工作團隊簡單的說就是由知識工作者所組成的工作團隊。隨著網際網路的發展日新月異，有越來越多具有共同工作目標的知識工作者組成知識工作團隊並嘗試透過虛擬社群溝通及執行任務。當這些知識工作者不以面對面的方式接觸，而是透過虛擬社群彼此相遇和互動時，在虛擬社群中所發生的活動如何影響知識工作團隊的特徵就成為本研究的主要目的。這些知識工作團隊的特徵則被解釋為是一些足以影響團隊運作成效的變數。

　本研究以開放原始碼軟體發展社群「傲爾網」作為探討上述關係的研究個案，在研究中則發現一種新型態的「邦聯式虛擬社群」。這種以分散式虛擬社群架構所建置社群，不同於傳統集中式的虛擬社群架構，它無所謂集中管理的機構，而是由一群群獨立運作，並且分散在不同場域的知識工作團隊基於共同的利益而彼此結合。

　研究結果顯示，邦聯式虛擬社群的經營者必須(1)提供強有力的跨場域溝通能力、(2)以面對面集會輔助成員的互動以及(3)透過契約規範團隊的產出，才能有效經營此類社群。另外社群訴求的主題也是此類社群是否可以成長茁壯的關鍵。

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