free(ish) tools for virtual teams

Free(ish) Tools for Virtual Teams

Jim MulhollandWynn NetherlandSqueejee

Working Virtually

(or virtually working)

Who is doing this?

Distributed teams (often global)TelecommutersFull spectrum of team roles

DevelopersDesignersProject managersKnowledge workersStakeholders (management and clients)

Challenges

Challenge #1Audio (and video)

conferencingCan you hear me now?

- Verizon Guy

FreeConferenceCall.com

Great for ad-hoc meetingsFree unlimited conference callingToll numbersUsers pay their own long distanceGreat for domestic teamsNot so great for global teams

Skype

Cheap international calls using VOIPCall quality varies with connectionConference calling with both PC-to-PC and landline users

Skype + FreeConferenceCall.com

Nice bridge between international and domestic usersGives users choice of connection

Challenge #2Communication

What we've got here is... failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it... well, he gets it. I don't like it any more than you men.

- Captain from Cool Hand Luke

Email

Great for asynchronous messagingNot so great for realtime communicationClunky for sharing files (especially large ones)

IM

Great for realtimeNot so great for multiple usersDifficult for sharing filesMessages are often not durable (not guaranteed the person on the other end will see it if not at their PC)

IRC (Internet Relay Chat)

Great for nerdsNot so great for everyone elsePorts often blocked at the corporate firewall

Campfire from 37 Signals

Web-based chat that just works

Challenge #3Project management

I love deadlines, I especially like the SWOOSHING sound they make as they fly past- Unknown author

What are you doing?

When will you be done?

What are you doing next?

Tons of options

Open SourceTracRedmine

HostedLighthouseUnfuddleBasecamp

Challenge #4Tracking time

If YOU'RE here and I'M here, isn't really OUR time?

- Jeff Spicoli Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Uses For Time Tracking

Track TimeReporting InvoicingPayroll

Tons of options

Full Featured (Time / Invoicing / ect)QuickbooksOnlineFreshBooksHarvestAppCashboardApp

Time FocusedSlimTimerTogglTickstart (In development)

Challenge #5Sharing your work

Dude where's my code?- Jim after watching Dude Where's My Car?

Source control (versioning and backup)

Git (Github, Unfuddle)SVN (Unfuddle)

Google Docs

Mostly Microsoft Office CompatibleReal-time collaborationDocumentsSpreadsheetsPresentations (that's how we made this slide deck)

Demo

Putting it all together

Thanks!

Jim Mulhollandjim@squeejee.com

twitter: mully

Wynn Netherlandwynn@squeejee.com

twitter: pengwynn

web: squeejee.com blog: locomotivation.com