Virtual TeamworkVirtual Teamworka brief introductiona brief introduction

Presented byPresented bySafwat SolaimanSafwat SolaimanVimala SubbarayanVimala SubbarayanSimon Thompson Simon Thompson

What is a virtual team?What is a virtual team? Broad definitionBroad definition History History How they operateHow they operate Organisations that use themOrganisations that use them

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- good methods Less time consuming- good methods

of communication like email and faxof communication like email and fax Time effectiveness- save time for Time effectiveness- save time for

more important tasks and decision more important tasks and decision making in the organisationmaking in the organisation

Increase person productivity- cause Increase person productivity- cause more people are employedmore people are employed

Virtual teams crossing Virtual teams crossing time boundariestime boundaries Its too quick- sometimes not easy Its too quick- sometimes not easy

to rectify errors quickly.to rectify errors quickly.

Example: stock exchangeExample: stock exchange Time differenceTime difference

Virtual teams crossing Virtual teams crossing geographic boundariesgeographic boundaries 11

Virtual teams crossing Virtual teams crossing geographic boundariesgeographic boundaries 22

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- smaller Lower costs base- smaller premisespremises

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

Being more competitive and Being more competitive and responsive to the market.responsive 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 Dangers of overwork leading to

burn outburn out Actions get overlooked–team Actions get overlooked–team

members assume someone else members assume someone else responsibleresponsible

Managing people you have never Managing people you have never met can be challengingmet can 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

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

NTA. (2002). "Models of Care for Treatment of Adult Drug Misusers NTA. (2002). "Models of Care for Treatment of Adult Drug Misusers [online]." Retrieved 11th November 2007, from [online]." Retrieved 11th November 2007, from http://www.nta.nhs.uk/publications/documents/nta_modelsofcare2_20http://www.nta.nhs.uk/publications/documents/nta_modelsofcare2_2002_moc2.pdf.02_moc2.pdf.

NTA. (2006). "Models of Care for Treatment of Adult Drug Misusers: NTA. (2006). "Models of Care for Treatment of Adult Drug Misusers: Update 2006 [online]." Retrieved 11th November 2007, from Update 2006 [online]." Retrieved 11th November 2007, from http://www.nta.nhs.uk/publications/documents/nta_modelsofcare_updhttp://www.nta.nhs.uk/publications/documents/nta_modelsofcare_update_2006_moc3.pdf.ate_2006_moc3.pdf.

ReferencesReferences

References & References & BibliographyBibliography

Buchanan, D. and Huczynski, A. (2004). Buchanan, D. and Huczynski, A. (2004). Organizational Behaviour: An Organizational Behaviour: An introductory textintroductory text. London: Prentice Hall.. 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. (1988). Organizational behaviour. London, ITBP.Martin, J. (1988). Organizational behaviour. London, ITBP.

BibliographyBibliography

Virtual teamsVirtual teams

Any questions?Any questions?