Transcript Virtual Teams - managementgurus

Virtual Teamwork
a brief introduction
Presented by
Safwat Solaiman 05245718
Vimala Subbarayan 20137974
Simon Thompson 06472501
What is a virtual team?
Virtual team, also known as Geographically Dispersed Team (GTD),
who can work across – time, space, organisational boundaries with
links strengthened by webs of communication technology (Rees,
2007).
History 1728 – Caleb Phillips sent new methods of learning shorthand
to whoever wanted to learn it worldwide (first signs of virtual
learning). Only went through significant changes when it was used
in business in the past few decades due to globalisation and wide
spread of technology (Nnyago, 2007).
How they operate – Organisation are geographically distributed
people working together, but from different locations
Organisations that use them – telecommunication, airport
authority, etc.
What sorts of virtual
team are there?
Crossing time boundaries
 Crossing geographic boundaries
 Crossing organisational boundaries

Virtual teams crossing
time boundaries
Advantages

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Less time consuming – Instant tools like Email, voice mail, laptops, internet
telephones, interactive pagers, video
conferencing
Time effectiveness – saves time for more
important tasks and decision making in the
organisation
Increases capacity – more people can be
employed at lower labour costs
Example: The Ken Blanchard Companies (Blanchard 2007)
Virtual teams crossing
time boundaries
Disadvantages

It’s too quick – sometimes its difficult
if not impossible to rectify errors
Example: International stock exchanges
 Stress of working across time zones
for team leaders/managers
Virtual teams crossing
geographic boundaries
Advantages



Cost of premises – Low or no cost of
premised involved since geographical
distribution of workers
Market expansion – Create alliances,
mergers and extend the markets in different
geographical locations
Different types of people – Members can be
from different divisions or offices.
Virtual teams crossing
geographic boundaries
Disadvantages


Monitoring – Since based in different
location, monitoring workers can be difficult
‘No thrust, no team’ – Trust is a top factor in
determining virtual team success
Virtual teams crossing
organisational boundaries
Example: Drug treatment in the UK
Treatment : This term
describes a range of
interventions which
are intended to
remedy an identified
drug-related problem
or condition relating
to a person's physical,
psychological or social
(including legal) wellbeing.
NTA (National Treatment Agency) (2002,
2006).
Virtual teams crossing
organisational boundaries
Difficulties in implementation



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Different case management systems (management
information)
Separate IT systems and networks
Conflicting policies (data sharing, systems access, etc.)
Conflicting loyalties
Lack of buy-in by team member’s line managers
Funding and budget alignment
Advantages of virtual teams


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Increasing the work-life balance – by
removing fixed office hours
Lower costs base – smaller or cheaper
premises
Wider groups or networks can be
involved
Being more competitive and
responsive to the market
Disadvantages of Virtual
teams


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Loneliness and isolation – If not properly
managed
Dangers of overwork leading to burn out
Actions get overlooked – team members
assume someone else is responsible
Managing people you have never met can
be challenging
Virtual teams - summary


Provide the means to take advantage of, or overcome, geographical
and temporal constraints
Offer a dynamic solution to challenging problems
But….



Are only as effective as the technology that links their members
Can be challenging for those managing the virtual team
May be misused or misunderstood by managers outside the virtual
team
Nine people working on a
project from home does
not make a virtual team ...
References &
Bibliography
References
Blanchard, K. (2007). "The Ken Blanchard Companies [online]." Retrieved 13th November
2007, from http://www.kenblanchard.com/.
Nnyago, O. (2007). "Distance learning convenient and cheaper; it’s the way to go [online]."
Retrieved 13th November 2007, from http://www.monitor.co.ug/oped/oped10262.php.
Noble, S. (2007). "Starting up a virtual team [online]." Retrieved 11th November 2007, from
http://www.teambuildinginc.com/article_virtual.htm.
NTA. (2002). "Models of Care for Treatment of Adult Drug Misusers [online]." Retrieved 11th
November 2007, from
http://www.nta.nhs.uk/publications/documents/nta_modelsofcare2_2002_moc2.pdf.
NTA. (2006). "Models of Care for Treatment of Adult Drug Misusers: Update 2006 [online]."
Retrieved 11th November 2007, from
http://www.nta.nhs.uk/publications/documents/nta_modelsofcare_update_2006_moc3.pdf.
Rees, J. (2007). "Virtual teams [online]." Retrieved 13th November 2007, from
http://www.managementhelp.org/grp_skll/virtual/virtual.htm.
References &
Bibliography
Bibliography
Brooks, I. (2006). Organisational Behaviour: Individuals, Groups, Organisations.
3rd Edition. London: FT/Pitman.
Buchanan, D. and Huczynski, A. (2004). Organizational Behaviour: An
introductory text. 5th Edition. London: Prentice Hall.
Hertel, G., Geister, S. and Konradt, U. (2005). "Managing virtual teams: A review
of current empirical research". Human Resource Management Review 15(1),
69-95.
Martin, J. (1998). Organizational behaviour. London, ITBP.
Virtual teams
Any questions?