Technology and Global Business Communication and Collaboration

1. Technology and Global Business Communication and Collaboration Dr. Melinda Korzaan Associate Professor, Computer Information Systems Jennings A. Jones College of Business Middle Tennessee State University February, 2013

2. Technology and Global Business Communication and Collaboration Introduction Virtual/Global Team Terminology Communication and Collaboration Technologies Virtual World Demonstration

3. Tennessee is Horse Country! Trail riding

4. In Second Life… Flying to class on my Pegasus

5. Virtual/Global Team Terminology Key Terms and Definitions

6. Key Terms and Definitions • Cultural Intelligence • “The ability to recognize cultural differences and how they potentially impact on one another, while also applying appropriate strategies and self-management techniques to achieve mutually beneficial goals” Brake, p. 214 • Techno-Dexterity • “Understanding of and competence in using the right technology to successfully convey the right message” Logeski pp. 77-78 • Using technology to inspire and impart vision. • Traversing Boundaries • Crossing over boundaries such as: disciplinary, organizational, geographic, age, social, and cultural divisions to bring people and groups together • Reverse mentoring, use social networking such as Facebook, Linked-In, etc…

7. Key Terms and Definitions • Glocalization • Balance between global and local issues in the workplace • “think global, act local” • Virtual Distance / Psychological Distance • Perceived distance – increases as we rely on technology for communication • Although also exists in face-to-face communication • When perceived distance is high: innovation, trust, job satisfaction, project results, and leader effectiveness declines. • Collaboration technology is used to help team members feel closer to each other

8. Communication and Collaboration Technologies From Telephones to Virtual Worlds

9. Communication and Collaboration Technologies • Email • Asynchronous • Easily archived • Several recipients • Can lead to information overload • Telephone / Mobile Phone / Texting • Speed and synchronous communication • Texting – speed, need an urgent response • Discussion Forums • Asynchronously share information and answer questions • Includes blogs and wikis • Share documents • Can be used for brainstorming and making decisions

10. Communication and Collaboration Technologies • Chat • Can transmit voice and text • Asking and answering questions • Making quick contact • Makes it easy to ask quick questions • Videoconference and Teleconference • Participate in a synchronous communication • Share a common space • Videoconference - visual • Participate in decision making, negotiating, brainstorming and sharing ideas, creating social proximity • Webcast • Transmit audio, video, and other content over the Internet • Especially useful in one-to many presentations

11. Communication and Collaboration Technologies • Social Network Technology • Construct a profile – articulate list of users whom share a connection – view lists of connections on other profiles • Built around a common purpose; communities of common interests • Virtual Worlds and Web 2.0 • Synchronous Collaboration • Virtual Worlds began in the 1960s with Morton Heilig: Sensorama (virtual reality technology) • Web-based simulated environments • Avatars are electronic representations of users • Second Life…will virtual worlds become the tool of virtual leaders? • Consulting at IBM http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=KXcw3f2Snh4

12. Virtual World Demonstration Second Life INFS 6510 Information Technology (IT) Project Risk Assessment & Control Catastrophe Disentanglement: Saving IT Projects from Failure Class Meetings: Lecture Group Collaboration Group Project: Risk Assessment Group Research Presentation

13. Why Not Meet In Second Life? Students requested to meet in Second Life Risk analysis on meeting in Second Life… Even if we fail we will still learn from the experience What’s the worst that could happen?

14. Our First Lecture in Second LifeWhat a Scholarly Group! Vassar Island Fall 2008

15. Class Meeting Fall 2009Vassar Island Avatar Group Identity and Bonding A Facebook Posting from Halo Vader

16. Project Disentanglement – Getting the Project Back on Track. Thank you Halo Vader! Saving an IT Project from Becoming a Catastrophe Sometimes Takes a Super Hero

17. Fall 2010MTSU Purchased an Island Our very own amphitheater to meet in!!

18. Virtual Activities • Work on a Virtual IT Risk Project – Students develop an IT Risk Assessment from a Case Study • Virtual Team Research Projects and Presentation • Research a topic related to IT Project Risks and Present PPT to class in Second Life • Virtual Class Meeting • Collaborate with GoogleDocs • Discussion Questions • Brainstorming

19. Virtual IT Risk Assessment Project In 2010 a group volunteered to work virtually on their mid-term Risk Assessment Case Project They were given templates in Google Docs Collaboration in Second Life and Google Docs

20. Virtual Team Meeting to Work on Risk Assessment Project This is the Green Group working diligently on their project in the Conference Center on MTSU Island

21. Virtual Team Research Project and Presentation Teams present research projects in Second Life. The goal is to simulate a virtual team project. Students are given Linden $ and they set up their own PowerPoint Presentation. Each member of the group has a chance to speak.

22. Group Research Presentation Night! Attending the Student Presentations in Second Life

23. Presenting in the MTSU Amphitheater

24. Software Development Methodologies!

25. Students created their own presentation environment with a platform by the ocean

26. Private chat allows me to let the presenter know when presentation time is about over These chairs are not that comfortable…

27. The Virtual Class MeetingClass MeetsGroup Breakout SessionsClass Reconvenes Class begins by meeting as a whole group in the Amphitheater on MTUS Island

28. Class Meetings – Begin with Whole Class at the Amphitheater Chatting with students before class

29. Class Meetings – Begin with Whole Class at the Amphitheater Omodan is checking out the Discussion Questions before class begins

30. Class Meetings – Begin with Whole Class at the Amphitheater Time to get started!

31. The Virtual Class Meeting Next, group breakout sessions

32. Group Breakout Sessions This is the Purple Group working in the KOM on Discussion Questions from the Catastrophe Disentanglement Textbook

33. The Virtual Class Meeting After breakout sessions, time to reconvene back at the Amphitheater. Students will then discuss their answers to discussion questions and at time we will travel to other islands for our class discussion time

34. After Group Breakout Sessions From the Amphitheater we teleported to ISTE island where we had a roundtable discussion

35. Class Dismisses and Avatars Travel Home ….or just logoff

36. References • Where in the world is my team? Making a Success of Your Virtual Global Workplace, Terence Brake, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2008 • Leading the Virtual Workforce: How Great Leaders Transform Organizations in the 21st Century, Karen SobelLojeski, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2010 • Virtual Teamwork: Mastering the Art and Practice of Online Learning and Corporate Collabroation, Robert Ubell, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 2010