- Project Management Concepts
- Project Management Home
- Activity Based Costing
- Agile Project Management
- Basic Management Skills
- Basic Quality Tools
- Benchmarking Process
- Cause and Effect Diagram
- Change Management Process
- Communication Blockers
- Communication Channels
- Communication Methods
- Communication Models
- Communications Management
- Conflict Management
- Crisis Management
- Critical Chain Scheduling
- Critical Path Method
- Decision Making Process
- Design of Experiment
- Effective Communication Skills
- Effective Presentation Skills
- Enterprise Resource Planning
- Event Chain Methodology
- Extreme Project Management
- Gantt Chart Tool
- Just-In-Time Manufacturing
- Knowledge Management
- Leads, Lags and Floats
- Management Best Practices
- Management Styles
- Management by Objectives
- Monte Carlo Analysis
- Motivation Theories
- Negotiation Skills
- Organizational Structures
- PERT Estimation Technique
- PRINCE2 Project Methodology
- Pareto Chart Tool
- Powerful Leadership Skills
- Process Based Management
- Procurement Documents
- Procurement Management
- Project Activity Diagram
- Project Charter
- Project Contract Types
- Project Cost Control
- Project Kick-off Meeting
- Project Lessons Learned
- Project Management Methodologies
- Project Management Office
- Project Management Processes
- Project Management Tools
- Project Management Triangle
- Project Manager Goals
- Project Portfolio Management
- Project Quality Plan
- Project Records Management
- Project Risk Categories
- Project Risk Management
- Project Scope Definition
- Project Selection Method
- Project Success Criteria
- Project Time Management
- Project Workforce Management
- Project Management Softwares
- QC and QA Processes
- RACI Chart Tool
- Recognition and Rewards
- Requirement Collection
- Resource Leveling
- Staffing Management Plan
- Stakeholder Management
- Statement of Work (SOW)
- Stress Management Techniques
- Structured Brainstorming
- Succession Planning
- Supply Chain Management
- Team Building Program
- Team Motivation
- The Balanced Scorecard
- The Halo Effect
- The Make or Buy Decision
- The Rule of Seven
- The Virtual Team
- Total Productive Maintenance
- Total Quality Management
- Traditional Project Management
- Work Breakdown Structure
- Useful Resource
- Management Concepts - Quick Guide
- Management Concepts - Resources
- Management Concepts - Discussion
- Selected Reading
- UPSC IAS Exams Notes
- Developer's Best Practices
- Questions and Answers
- Effective Resume Writing
- HR Interview Questions
- Computer Glossary
- Who is Who
The Virtual Team
Introduction
A virtual team is a team where the primary method of interaction is done through electronic mediums. When it comes to the medium, it could range from e-mail communications to video conferencing.
Some virtual teams do not interact face-to-face (when team members reside in different demographics) and some virtual teams physically meet up occasionally.
Think of an online business for web development. Someone can start such a business and hire developers, QA engineers, UI engineers and project managers from different parts of the globe.
Since web development does not involve in physical delivery of goods and all the deliveries are done electronically, such a company can exist on the Internet.
Team meetings can be held through conference voice calls or video calls. This virtual team can work towards their company goals and act as a single entity just by telecommuting.
Why Virtual Teams?
There are many reasons for having a virtual team. First of all, it is the technology.
The Internet and related technologies helped enhancing the communication across the globe, where certain industries that do not require the person to be present in physical sense could make much use of it. A good example is a web development team.
Following are some of the top reasons for having virtual teams:
Team members are not located in the same demography.
The transportation cost and time is quite an overhead.
Team members may work in different times.
The company does not require a physical office, so the logistics and related costs are minimum.
The type of work done may require high level of creativity, so the employees will have better creativity when they work from a place they are comfortable with (home).
Types of Virtual Teams
There are many types of virtual teams operating at present. Following are a few of those teams:
Entire companies that operate virtually
Tasks teams, responsible of carrying out a specific task
Friendship teams such as groups in Facebook or any other social network
Command teams, such as a sales team of a company distributed throughout the US
Interest teams where the members share a common interest
The Technology
The technology plays a vital role for virtual teams. Without the use of advanced technology, virtual teams cannot be effective.
The Internet is the primary technology used by the virtual teams. The Internet offers many facilities for the virtual teams. Some of them are:
E-mail
VoIP (Voice Over IP) - voice conferencing
Video conferencing
Groupware software programs such as Google Docs where teams can work collaboratively.
Software for conducting demonstrations and trainings such as Microsoft Live Meeting and WebEx.
When it comes to the technology, not only the software matters, the virtual teams should be equipped with necessary hardware as well.
As an example, for a video conference, the team members should be equipped with a web camera and a microphone.
Advantages and Disadvantages
First of all, let's look at the advantages of operating as a virtual team.
Team members can work from anywhere and any time of the day. They can choose the place they work based on the mood and the comfort.
You can recruit people for their skills and suitability to the job. The location does not matter.
There is no time and money wasted for commuting and clothing.
Physical handicaps are not an issue.
The company does not have to have a physical office maintained. This reduces a lot of costs to the company. By saving this money, the company can better compensate the employees.
Along with the above-mentioned advantages, following are few disadvantages of using virtual team:
Since team members do not frequently meet or do not meet at all, the teamwork spirit may not be present.
Some people prefer to be in a physical office when working. These people will be less productive in virtual environments.
To work for virtual teams, individuals need to have a lot of self-discipline. If the individual is not disciplined, he or she may be less productive.
Conclusion
Virtual teams are rising in numbers nowadays. Small technology companies are now adapting virtual team practice for recruiting the best people from all over the globe.
In addition, these companies minimize their operating costs and maximize the profit margins. Additionally, the employees working in virtual teams are at advantages when it comes to working in their own home, own time, and reduction of commuting costs.
Therefore, organizations should look into setting up virtual teams for different tasks whenever possible.