1. CERI Hot Topic Seminar – The virtual business Gary Frostick BSc(Hons) CEng CITP MBCS Senior Solutions Architect Xonitek Systems/Index Computer Systems

2. Introduction – Virtual Teams Benefits, Risks & Weaknesses Strategy and Recommendations Conclusions 1 2 3 4

3. Collaboration across international boundaries? Issues raised are relevant to any virtual business/virtual team scenario – not just international issues.

4. What is a Virtual Team? A virtual team is a group of individuals who work across time, location and organisational boundaries.

5. Why Virtual Teams? Customer/Supplier Projects Multi-Supplier Projects Multiple Locations Teleworkers Cross-Department Internal Projects Service Teams Action Teams (Contingency Planning)

6. Why Virtual Teams? Geographically dispersed teams allow organisations to hire and retain the best people regardless of location. Organisations becoming more geographically dispersed due to availability/cost of labour/facilities. Allow organisations to build customer/supplier (or inter-supplier) relationships over long-term projects to achieve common goals. Greater use of sub-contractors/facilities management/third party logistics.

7. Strengths of Virtual Teams Pool Expertise Avoids Limitations of Resource Supplier/Customers Relationships can become Partnerships Flexibility

8. Weaknesses of Virtual Teams Leadership Ownership Visibility Time Differences Language Barriers Cultural Differences Division of Work Trust Isolation Consensual decision making can be slower/more difficult

9. Strategy So can virtual teams be effective?

10. Recommendations Include Face-to Face Time - At start of project - Project reviews (If possible) Keep Project Information Visible - Common Systems - Use IT Supported Co-operative Systems - Appropriate Information Availability/Security Recognise Communication Delays - Time Zones - Working Days - Agreed Response Times

11. Recommendations 2 Keep Team Members Visible - Common Calendar - Project Plan - Etc Communication - Document Conversation - Language Barrier - Augment Text Only Communications - Don’t Rely on e-mail!!! - Back-up Communication Methods Establish Ground Rules (Working Methodology) - Trust

12. Recommendations 3 Project Reviews (Team Assessment) Recognise People - Achievements - Potential Conflicts Learn from Experience

13. Conclusions Virtual teams can be very effective but limitations must be recognised. Technology makes virtual teams possible, but is not a perfect substitution for human interaction. Virtual teams can be used in some scenarios to improve inter-organisation relationships and can add competitive advantage.

14. Questions