1. Virtual Teamwork a brief introduction Presented by Safwat Solaiman 05245718 Vimala Subbarayan 20137974 Simon Thompson 06472501

2. What is a virtual team? Virtual team, also known as Geographically Dispersed Team (GTD), who can work across – time, space, organisational boundaries with links strengthened by webs of communication technology (Rees, 2007). History 1728 – Caleb Phillips sent new methods of learning shorthand to whoever wanted to learn it worldwide (first signs of virtual learning). Only went through significant changes when it was used in business in the past few decades due to globalisation and wide spread of technology (Nnyago, 2007). How they operate – Organisation are geographically distributed people working together, but from different locations Organisations that use them – telecommunication, airport authority, etc.

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

4. Virtual teams crossing time boundaries Less time consuming – Instant tools like E- mail, voice mail, laptops, internet telephones, interactive pagers, video conferencing Less time consuming – Instant tools like E- mail, voice mail, laptops, internet telephones, interactive pagers, video conferencing Time effectiveness – saves time for more important tasks and decision making in the organisation Time effectiveness – saves time for more important tasks and decision making in the organisation Increases capacity – more people can be employed at lower labour costs Increases capacity – more people can be employed at lower labour costs Example: The Ken Blanchard Companies (Blanchard 2007) Advantages

5. Virtual teams crossing time boundaries It’s too quick – sometimes its difficult if not impossible to rectify errors It’s too quick – sometimes its difficult if not impossible to rectify errors Example: International stock exchanges Example: International stock exchanges  Stress of working across time zones for team leaders/managers Disadvantages

6. Virtual teams crossing geographic boundaries Cost of premises – Low or no cost of premised involved since geographical distribution of workers Cost of premises – Low or no cost of premised involved since geographical distribution of workers Market expansion – Create alliances, mergers and extend the markets in different geographical locations Market expansion – Create alliances, mergers and extend the markets in different geographical locations Different types of people – Members can be from different divisions or offices. Different types of people – Members can be from different divisions or offices. Advantages

7. Virtual teams crossing geographic boundaries Monitoring – Since based in different location, monitoring workers can be difficult Monitoring – Since based in different location, monitoring workers can be difficult ‘No thrust, no team’ – Trust is a top factor in determining virtual team success ‘No thrust, no team’ – Trust is a top factor in determining virtual team success Disadvantages

8. Virtual teams crossing organisational boundaries Example: 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).

9. Virtual teams crossing organisational boundaries Different case management systems (management information) Different case management systems (management information) Separate IT systems and networks Separate IT systems and networks Conflicting policies (data sharing, systems access, etc.) Conflicting policies (data sharing, systems access, etc.) Conflicting loyalties Conflicting loyalties Lack of buy-in by team member’s line managers Lack of buy-in by team member’s line managers Funding and budget alignment Funding and budget alignment Difficulties in implementation

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

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

12. Virtual teams - summary Provide the means to take advantage of, or overcome, geographical and temporal constraints Provide the means to take advantage of, or overcome, geographical and temporal constraints Offer a dynamic solution to challenging problems Offer a dynamic solution to challenging problems Are only as effective as the technology that links their members Are only as effective as the technology that links their members Can be challenging for those managing the virtual team Can be challenging for those managing the virtual team May be misused or misunderstood by managers outside the virtual team May be misused or misunderstood by managers outside the virtual team But…. Nine people working on a project from home does not make a virtual team...

13. References & Bibliography Blanchard, K. (2007). "The Ken Blanchard Companies [online]." Retrieved 13th November 2007, from http://www.kenblanchard.com/. http://www.kenblanchard.com/ Nnyago, O. (2007). "Distance learning convenient and cheaper; it’s the way to go [online]." Retrieved 13th November 2007, from http://www.monitor.co.ug/oped/oped10262.php. http://www.monitor.co.ug/oped/oped10262.php Noble, S. (2007). "Starting up a virtual team [online]." Retrieved 11th 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 [online]." Retrieved 11th November 2007, from http://www.nta.nhs.uk/publications/documents/nta_modelsofcare2_2002_moc2.pdf. 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. http://www.nta.nhs.uk/publications/documents/nta_modelsofcare_update_2006_moc3.pdf Rees, J. (2007). "Virtual teams [online]." Retrieved 13th November 2007, from http://www.managementhelp.org/grp_skll/virtual/virtual.htm. http://www.managementhelp.org/grp_skll/virtual/virtual.htm References

14. References & Bibliography Brooks, I. (2006). Organisational Behaviour: Individuals, Groups, Organisations. 3rd Edition. London: FT/Pitman. Buchanan, D. and Huczynski, A. (2004). Organizational Behaviour: An introductory text. 5th Edition. London: Prentice Hall. Hertel, G., Geister, S. and Konradt, U. (2005). "Managing virtual teams: A review of current empirical research". Human Resource Management Review 15(1), 69-95. Martin, J. (1998). Organizational behaviour. London, ITBP. Bibliography

15. Virtual teams Any questions?