Virtual Teamwork a brief introduction

1. Virtual Teamworka brief introduction Presented by Safwat SolaimanVimala SubbarayanSimon Thompson

2. What is a virtual team? • Broad definition • History • How they operate • Organisations that use them

3. What sorts of virtual team are there? • Crossing time boundaries • Crossing geographic boundaries • Crossing organisational boundaries

4. Virtual teams crossing time boundaries • Less time consuming- good methods of communication like email and fax • Time effectiveness- save time for more important tasks and decision making in the organisation • Increase person productivity- cause more people are employed

5. Virtual teams crossing time boundaries • Its too quick- sometimes not easy to rectify errors quickly. Example: stock exchange • Time difference

6. Virtual teams crossing geographic boundaries • 1

7. Virtual teams crossing geographic boundaries • 2

8. 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 organisational boundaries Example: Drug treatment in the UK

9. Virtual teams crossing organisational boundaries Difficulties in implementation • 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

10. Advantages of virtual teams • Increasing the work-life balance- by removing fixed office hours • Lower costs base- smaller premises • Wider groups or networks can be involved • Being more competitive and responsive to the market.

11. Disadvantages of Virtual teams • Loneliness and isolation- If not properly managed • Dangers of overwork leading to burn out • Actions get overlooked–team members assume someone else responsible • Managing people you have never met can be challenging

12. Nine people working on a project from home does not make a virtual team ... 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

13. References & Bibliography 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. References

14. References & Bibliography Buchanan, D. and Huczynski, A. (2004). Organizational Behaviour: An introductory text. London: Prentice Hall. Hertel, G., Geister, S. and Konradt, U. (2005). "Managing virtual teams: A review of current empirical research". Human Resource Management Review15(1), 69-95. Martin, J. (1988). Organizational behaviour. London, ITBP. Bibliography

15. Virtual teams Any questions?