Virtual TeamworkVirtual Teamworka brief introductiona brief introduction

Presented byPresented bySafwat Solaiman Safwat Solaiman 0524571805245718Vimala Subbarayan Vimala Subbarayan 2013797420137974Simon Thompson Simon Thompson 0647250106472501

What is a virtual team?What is a virtual team?

Virtual teamVirtual team, also known as Geographically Dispersed Team , also known as Geographically Dispersed Team ((GTDGTD), who can work across – time, space, organisational ), who can work across – time, space, organisational boundaries with links strengthened by webs of boundaries with links strengthened by webs of communication technology (Rees, 2007).communication technology (Rees, 2007).

HistoryHistory 1728 1728 – Caleb Phillips sent new methods of learning – Caleb Phillips sent new methods of learning shorthand to whoever wanted to learn it worldwide (first signs shorthand to whoever wanted to learn it worldwide (first signs of virtual learning). Only went through significant changes of virtual learning). Only went through significant changes when it was used in business in the past few decades due to when it was used in business in the past few decades due to globalisation and wide spread of technology (Nnyago, 2007).globalisation and wide spread of technology (Nnyago, 2007).

How they operateHow they operate – Organisation are geographically – Organisation are geographically distributed people working together, but from different distributed people working together, but from different locationslocations

Organisations that use themOrganisations that use them – telecommunication, airport – telecommunication, airport authority, etc.authority, etc.

What sorts of virtual What sorts of virtual team are there?team are there?

Crossing time boundariesCrossing time boundaries Crossing geographic boundariesCrossing geographic boundaries Crossing organisational boundariesCrossing organisational boundaries

Virtual teams crossing Virtual teams crossing time boundariestime boundaries

Less time consuming – Instant tools like Less time consuming – Instant tools like E-mail, voice mail, laptops, internet E-mail, voice mail, laptops, internet telephones, interactive pagers, video telephones, interactive pagers, video conferencingconferencing

Time effectiveness – saves time for Time effectiveness – saves time for more important tasks and decision more important tasks and decision making in the organisationmaking in the organisation

Increases capacity – more people can Increases capacity – more people can be employed at lower labour costsbe employed at lower labour costs

Example: The Ken Blanchard Companies (Blanchard 2007)Example: The Ken Blanchard Companies (Blanchard 2007)

AdvantagesAdvantages

Virtual teams crossing Virtual teams crossing time boundariestime boundaries

It’s too quick – sometimes its It’s too quick – sometimes its difficult if not impossible to rectify difficult if not impossible to rectify errorserrors

Example: International stock Example: International stock exchangesexchanges

Stress of working across time Stress of working across time zones for team leaders/managerszones for team leaders/managers

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Virtual teams crossing Virtual teams crossing geographic boundariesgeographic boundaries

Cost of premises – Low or no cost of Cost of premises – Low or no cost of premised involved since geographical premised involved since geographical distribution of workersdistribution of workers

Market expansion – Create alliances, Market expansion – Create alliances, mergers and extend the markets in mergers and extend the markets in different geographical locationsdifferent geographical locations

Different types of people – Members Different types of people – Members can be from different divisions or can be from different divisions or offices.offices.

AdvantagesAdvantages

Virtual teams crossing Virtual teams crossing geographic boundariesgeographic boundaries

Monitoring – Since based in different Monitoring – Since based in different location, monitoring workers can be location, monitoring workers can be difficultdifficult

‘‘No thrust, no team’ – Trust is a top No thrust, no team’ – Trust is a top factor in determining virtual team factor in determining virtual team success success

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Virtual teams crossing Virtual teams crossing organisational organisational boundariesboundaries

Example: Drug treatment in the UKExample: 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) well-being.

NTA (National Treatment Agency) (2002, 2006).

Virtual teams crossing Virtual teams crossing organisational organisational boundariesboundaries

Different case management systems Different case management systems (management information)(management information)

Separate IT systems and networksSeparate IT systems and networks Conflicting policies (data sharing, systems Conflicting policies (data sharing, systems

access, etc.)access, etc.) Conflicting loyalties Conflicting loyalties Lack of buy-in by team member’s line managersLack of buy-in by team member’s line managers Funding and budget alignmentFunding and budget alignment

Difficulties in implementationDifficulties in implementation

Advantages of virtual Advantages of virtual teamsteams

Increasing the work-life balance Increasing the work-life balance –– by removing fixed office hoursby removing fixed office hours

Lower costs base Lower costs base –– smaller or smaller or cheaper premisescheaper premises

Wider groups or networks can be Wider groups or networks can be involvedinvolved

Being more competitive and Being more competitive and responsive to the marketresponsive to the market

Disadvantages of Disadvantages of Virtual teamsVirtual teams Loneliness and isolation – If not Loneliness and isolation – If not

properly managedproperly managed Dangers of overwork leading to burn Dangers of overwork leading to burn

outout Actions get overlooked – team Actions get overlooked – team

members assume someone else is members assume someone else is responsibleresponsible

Managing people you have never met Managing people you have never met can be challengingcan be challenging

Virtual teams - Virtual teams - summarysummary

Provide the means to take advantage of, or overcome, Provide the means to take advantage of, or overcome, geographical and temporal constraintsgeographical and temporal constraints

Offer a dynamic solution to challenging problemsOffer a dynamic solution to challenging problems

Are only as effective as the technology that links their membersAre only as effective as the technology that links their members Can be challenging for those managing the virtual teamCan be challenging for those managing the virtual team May be misused or misunderstood by managers outside the May be misused or misunderstood by managers outside the

virtual teamvirtual team

But….

Nine people working on a project from home

does not make a virtual team ...

References & References & BibliographyBibliography

Blanchard, K. (2007). "The Ken Blanchard Companies [online]." Retrieved 13th November Blanchard, K. (2007). "The Ken Blanchard Companies [online]." Retrieved 13th November 2007, from 2007, from http://http://www.kenblanchard.comwww.kenblanchard.com//..

Nnyago, O. (2007). "Distance learning convenient and cheaper; it’s the way to go Nnyago, O. (2007). "Distance learning convenient and cheaper; it’s the way to go [online]." Retrieved 13th November 2007, from [online]." Retrieved 13th November 2007, from http://www.monitor.co.ug/oped/oped10262.phphttp://www.monitor.co.ug/oped/oped10262.php..

Noble, S. (2007). "Starting up a virtual team [online]." Retrieved 11th November 2007, Noble, S. (2007). "Starting up a virtual team [online]." Retrieved 11th November 2007, from from http://http://www.teambuildinginc.com/article_virtual.htmwww.teambuildinginc.com/article_virtual.htm..

NTA. (2002). "Models of Care for Treatment of Adult Drug Misusers [online]." Retrieved NTA. (2002). "Models of Care for Treatment of Adult Drug Misusers [online]." Retrieved 11th November 2007, from 11th November 2007, from http://www.nta.nhs.uk/publications/documents/nta_modelsofcare2_2002_moc2.pdfhttp://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]." NTA. (2006). "Models of Care for Treatment of Adult Drug Misusers: Update 2006 [online]." Retrieved 11th November 2007, from Retrieved 11th November 2007, from http://www.nta.nhs.uk/publications/documents/nta_modelsofcare_update_2006_moc3.http://www.nta.nhs.uk/publications/documents/nta_modelsofcare_update_2006_moc3.pdfpdf..

Rees, J. (2007). "Virtual teams [online]." Retrieved 13th November 2007, from Rees, J. (2007). "Virtual teams [online]." Retrieved 13th November 2007, from http://http://www.managementhelp.org/grp_skll/virtual/virtual.htmwww.managementhelp.org/grp_skll/virtual/virtual.htm..

ReferencesReferences

References & References & BibliographyBibliography

Brooks, I. (2006). Brooks, I. (2006). Organisational Behaviour: Individuals, Groups, Organisational Behaviour: Individuals, Groups, OrganisationsOrganisations. 3rd Edition. London: FT/Pitman.. 3rd Edition. London: FT/Pitman.

Buchanan, D. and Huczynski, A. (2004). Buchanan, D. and Huczynski, A. (2004). Organizational Behaviour: An Organizational Behaviour: An introductory textintroductory text. 5th Edition. London: Prentice Hall.. 5th Edition. London: Prentice Hall.

Hertel, G., Geister, S. and Konradt, U. (2005). "Managing virtual teams: Hertel, G., Geister, S. and Konradt, U. (2005). "Managing virtual teams: A review of current empirical research". A review of current empirical research". Human Resource Human Resource Management ReviewManagement Review 1515(1), 69-95.(1), 69-95.

Martin, J. (1998). Organizational behaviour. London, ITBP.Martin, J. (1998). Organizational behaviour. London, ITBP.

BibliographyBibliography

Virtual teamsVirtual teams

Any questions?Any questions?