Working Virtually : Challenges of Virtual Teams

by Jones, Robert; OYUNG, ROBERT; PACE, LISE

• ISBN13: 9781591405511
• ISBN10: 1591405513
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-07-30
• Publisher: Igi Global

Summary

This perspective on the growing dependence on virtual teams provides virtual offices with the tools to best exploit their environment. Insight is provided on using virtual teams to most effectively leverage scarce and distributed resources.

Author Biography

Robert Jones works for the enterprise architecture group of Hewlett-Packard where he is the team leader for a group that facilitates communication between more than 150 enterprise architects. He lives in Kennesaw, Georgia. Robert Lee Oyung is an R&D lab manager at Hewlett-Packard. He lives in Sacramento, California. Lise Shade Pace works for the enterprise architecture group of Hewlett-Packard Corporate IT. She lives in Ball Ground, Georgia.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Preface	xi
Reader's Guide to Working Virtually: Challenges of Virtual Teams	xvii
Section I: Virtual Team Myths
Eight Myths of Virtual Teams	1	(5)
Myth #1	1	(1)
Myth #2	2	(1)
Myth #3	2	(1)
Myth #4	3	(1)
Myth #5	3	(1)
Myth #6	4	(1)
Myth #7	4	(1)
Myth #8	5	(1)
Look Them Straight Between the Eyes	6	(7)
Myth #1	7	(2)
Myth #2	9	(2)
Myth #3	11	(1)
Final Thoughts	12	(1)
Out of Sight, Out of Mind	13	(9)
Myth #4	14	(1)
Myth #6	14	(4)
Myth #5	18	(3)
Final Thoughts	21	(1)
It's the Exception, Not the Norm	22	(4)
Myth #7	24	(1)
Myth #8	24	(1)
Final Thoughts	25	(1)
Establishing Trust	26	(7)
Consensus and Agreement	27	(1)
The Virtual Handshake	28	(5)
Section II: Business Case
Show Me the Money	33	(5)
Company Moves	33	(2)
Travel Avoidance	35	(1)
Savings on Real Estate	36	(2)
Human Resources Advantages	38	(7)
Getting the Right Person for the Job Regardless of Location	38	(1)
Safety and Security	39	(1)
Providing Work/Life Balance	40	(2)
Improving the Quality of Life	42	(1)
Blurring Work and Personal Time	43	(1)
Impact on Leisure Time	43	(2)
Organizational Advantages	45	(16)
Tying Together a Decentralized Environment	45	(4)
Mergers and Acquisitions	49	(3)
Getting Sales Representatives Out of the Office and in Front of Customers	52	(1)
Regional Representatives	53	(3)
Innovation	56	(1)
Other Virtual Team Drivers	57	(1)
Why Some Companies Don't Get It	58	(3)
Section III: Virtual Team Models
Mostly Co-Located	61	(5)
One Primary Location, Several Remote Team Members	61	(2)
Several Locations of Concentration	63	(2)
Challenges to These Models	65	(1)
Mostly Virtual	66	(7)
Advantages of a Mostly Virtual Team	67	(1)
Challenges of a Completely Virtual Team	67	(2)
Case Study: A Mostly Virtual Team Hosts a Summer Intern	69	(4)
How Teams Work Virtually	73	(18)
The Needs	74	(1)
The Skills	75	(1)
The Tools	76	(2)
Role of Video (Desktop and Room-Based)	78	(1)
Virtual Teams Don't Play Putt-Putt Golf	79	(2)
Case Studies Illustrating Creative Ways to Address Working Together Within Virtual Teams	81	(1)
Organizational ``Celebration and Farewell''	82	(5)
Periodic Organizational Get-Togethers / Team Building	87	(1)
Determining What Projects an Organization Will Pursue	87	(1)
Substituting for a Multi-Day, Face-to-Face Meeting	88	(1)
Getting Quick, Routine Decisions Made	88	(1)
Facilitating Informal Interaction Among an Entire Virtual Team	89	(2)
International Issues	91	(8)
Australia	91	(4)
Europe	95	(2)
Japan	97	(1)
The Internet as a Unifying Language	98	(1)
Virtual Team Maturity Curve	99	(5)
Avoid	100	(1)
Tolerate	101	(1)
Operate	102	(1)
Capitalize	102	(1)
Organizations and the Virtual Team Maturity Scale	103	(1)
Where is Your Company or Organization on the Virtual Team Continuum?	104	(10)
Comments on Our Scoring	108	(6)
Managing a Virtual Team	114	(6)
Be an Example	114	(1)
Get Off to a Great Start	115	(1)
Standardize	115	(1)
Time Zone Considerations	116	(1)
Be Visible	117	(1)
A Note for People Managers	118	(1)
Rewards System	119	(1)
Managing a Virtual Organization	120	(5)
Announcements	121	(1)
Motivation	121	(1)
Setting Up Your Organization for Success	122	(3)
Section IV: Best Practices for Virtual Teams
Impact of Culture, Affiliation, and Shared Goals	125	(5)
Team Culture	125	(1)
Virtual Out of Necessity	126	(1)
How Many Different Hats Can You Wear?	127	(1)
Shared Goals Strengthen Virtual Teams	127	(1)
The Top Leaders Set the Tone	128	(1)
Changing the Culture	128	(2)
Evolution of the Groupware Concept	130	(3)
Applying Tools for Maximum Impact	133	(16)
Let's Talk	134	(6)
Virtual Filing Cabinet	140	(1)
Show and Tell	141	(1)
Brainstorming	142	(1)
Voting	143	(1)
Markup	143	(1)
Are You There?	144	(1)
Sharing Information in Virtual Teams	145	(4)
Team Building	149	(4)
Photographs	149	(1)
Sometimes, Face-to-Face Doesn't Matter	150	(1)
Virtual Pictionary	150	(1)
Everquest	151	(2)
The Challenges of Virtual Teams	153	(7)
Continuums	153	(1)
Meetings	154	(1)
People Management	155	(1)
Culture	155	(1)
Tools	156	(1)
The Argument Against Virtual Meetings	156	(4)
Section V: Moving Forward with Virtual Teams
The Virtual Organization	160	(7)
Possibility Number One	160	(1)
Possibility Number Two	161	(1)
Possibility Number Three	161	(2)
Virtual Team Case Study	163	(4)
A Virtual Ecosystem	167	(2)
Success in a Virtual Ecosystem	168	(1)
E-Lancing	169	(5)
Working with MIT	169	(1)
Supply and Demand	170	(1)
Challenges	171	(1)
Best Practices	172	(1)
Extreme E-Lancing	172	(2)
Kids of the Internet Generation	174	(2)
Technology Still Doesn't Solve All Problems	174	(1)
Staying in Touch with the Family	175	(1)
Virtual Meeting Five-Year Vision/Narrative	176	(4)
On the Road	177	(1)
In a Conference Room	177	(1)
From a Home (Telecommuting)	178	(1)
Hiking	179	(1)
Do Virtual Teams Ever Need to Meet Face-to-Face?	180	(2)
Tools Appendix	182	(4)
Glossary of Terms	186	(4)
About the Authors	190	(2)
Index	192