The virtual team is a solution to the rapidly changing marketplace, organizational environment, and technological change. A virtual team is a group of highly talented people who work together as long as the project is being pursued. A virtual team may be in one workplace, be composed of telecommuters, or be worldwide linking many stakeholders.
There’s a misconception that the only way to create a virtual organization is to provide employees a laptop, e-mail, and instructions while corporate offices are sublet or disappear. Wrong! Organizations run on a set of rules, principles, and practices. Businesses and organizations are based on a culture, face-to-face contacts, synergies, and shared goals that can’t be replaced by a set of electronic tools.
Instant communication and transfer of information allow people to work as part of a team. Electronic communication through cell phones, email, computers, groupware, and video-conferencing link teams as if they were in the same building.
Virtual teaming sidestep matrix and hierarchal organizations. They’re confusing because of unknown relationships and new expectations.
Virtual teaming is still new with many questions, such as the following: What are behavioral protocols or rules among virtual teams? Who does what, where, and when? Who conducts the work? Who authorizes resources and how is it done? Where does responsibility and authority lie? These are confusing and change the fundamental relationships within an organization. Answers often depend on who is on the team and what does each person brings to the team.
Life Lesson Earned: Virtual teaming requires new technical, social, and global skills. Volunteer for a virtual team, preferably global. You’ll learn a lot.