Managing Virtual Teams

Managing Virtual Teams 1. Introduction Virtual police squads contain emerged to abate the contends of managing teams that are distributed across different regions, and are a sustainable component of global business. A intention manager managing a practical(prenominal) team would have to integrate communication strategies, project management techniques including pitying and social processes in nine to support the team, (Kimball, 1997). The reservoir is a project manager assigned to lede a virtual(prenominal) team of 300 volunteers located across the globe to develop recommendations for regulating cytosine emissions in the world.As indicated Kimball (1997), this kind of a virtual team usually supports people working in the corresponding professional field and most of the date focuses on learning. 2. The best way to structure this large virtual team The project would be divided into tasks and responsibilities. The team would be divided into sub-teams basing/depending on th e regions where the mortals come from, and permit these sub-teams work in isolation to deliver their completed task of the project within the stipulated time frame.It is real important that the tasks and responsibilities are evenly distributed between the sub-teams to reach the feeling of fairness among team members, (Edwards & Wilson, 2004). Sub-team leaders quite a little hold a face-to-face meeting in the same location with the author at the subtract and at the end of the project. 3. Important issues that the author foresee in managing this team a) Different time for interaction Communication across time zones as indicated in OB Week2 vex Notes (2013) would be a disturbing issue because there might be a difference of 10-12 hours between working days of regions where team members are based.In situations where the author request for urgent response on a particular issue, the information whitethorn be sent to the location at a non working time hence causing delay. To compu te this problem, the author would adopt a 24-hour working as outlined in Defencom case study, (Edwards & Wilson, 2004) so that individual sub-teams preserve work on the recommendations during their working day. This would minimize the crossing of time zones and the process can step-up team effectiveness.The author, as a project manager can establish a common time to interact face-to-face through video conferencing. b) Different cultural and language issues Working with 300 individuals from across the globe requires a project manager to be conscious of different cultural and language issues. These individuals would have different ways of working, thinking and also reporting differently. Integrating the work that has been submitted would be a challenge as there entrust be no time to develop a common language.In order to solve this issue the team needs to develop an open culture so that everyone can openly share information and not tolerate a blame game. c) Learning the new technol ogy It will be a problem if team members do not understand the virtual working process, which can hinder communication therefore affecting team relationships. Team members must be oriented to the virtual working process before the project commence so that they have enough time to ask.The author should develop a support mechanism for the team to use when experiencing difficulties. 4. Motivating individuals to archive the project aspiration These volunteers can be motivated by highlighting to them that, this is an opportunity for them to sharpen their skills and knowledge through jazz of this new working strategy where they will meet different people with different experiences. The author would create a platform for social interaction to speed-up teamwork and create access rights for each of hem to be aware what others are doing. The author would make time to interact with all team members during the project and make original that they have clear understanding of goals and objectiv es, also finding out if they are happy. 5. References Edwards, A. & Wilson, J. R. (2004) Implementing virtual teams a tie to organizational and human factors, University of Liverpool Online Library Online. Available from http//site. ebrary. com. ezproxy. liv. ac. uk/lib/liverpool/docDetail. action? ocID=10048150 (Accessed 14th February 2013). Kimball, L. (1997) Managing Virtual Teams text of speech assumption by Lisa Kimball for Team Strategies Conference sponsored by Federated Press, Toronto, Canada Online. Available from http//www. groupjazz. com (Accessed 15th February 2013). University of Liverpool/Laureate Online Education (2013) Lecture notes from Organizational Behavior and People Management week 1 online. Available from University of Liverpool/Laureate Online Education (Accessed 07 February 2013)