The Leading Virtually Digest, June 20, 2008
Email is one of the most used technologies in virtual teams. This week’s digest focuses on email, for which I noticed an increased focus in the media. The increased focus may be due to large technology companies, such as Microsoft, Intel, Google and I.B.M., coming together about a week ago to fight information overload – a problem to which email… Read more →
Transfer of Trust in Virtual Team Collaboration
There are three members of the Leading Virtually team who are currently the most active core. Of the three of us, I know Surinder well (he was my teacher and research collaborator when I was in graduate school). But I met Angelo for the first time in person last week. We have been working together for about 8 months without… Read more →
The Leading Virtually Digest, June 13, 2008
What: Wall Street Journal article (also available at Yahoo Finance!) about embarrassing moments during virtual meetings. Posts to which it is related: Improving Virtual Team Leadership Using Technology Bottom Line: Be mindful of the embarrassment that you may create for yourself if you don’t learn about and manage the technology (e.g., web meetings, video-conferencing, telephone-conferencing) that you are using for… Read more →
Assessing the Quality of Collaboration in Virtual Teams
For those who are interested in virtual team collaboration, the concept of teamwork is crucial. But rarely is “teamwork” actually defined. Just as the adage goes, we know it when we see it, but we may have trouble explicitly saying what makes for good teamwork. This week, Surinder sent me an academic journal article by Martin Hoegl and Hans Georg… Read more →
Leading In Face-to-Face Versus Virtual Teams
As more companies are considering the option of allowing their employees to telecommute (see the recent flurry of news about telecommuting), there is an increasing need to understand how leading in virtual teams is different from leading in face-to-face teams. In many cases, people have challenged the idea that leading in virtual teams is different from leading in face-to-face situations…. Read more →
The Leading Virtually Digest, June 2, 2008
What: Forbes.com article about doing business in geographically dispersed virtual teams (also see: accompanying slide show). Posts to which it is related: Implicit Communication and Culture: What it means for leading virtual teams; Culture Matters in Virtual Teams. Bottom Line: The author has a consulting business that helps companies manage IT-focused virtual teams that are globally dispersed. He points out… Read more →
Email Etiquette: Is The Thank You Email Simply a Thank You?
Email has become part of our everyday communication both in the office and at home. Correspondence that use to take place via the phone or in person are now being done virtually via email or webmail. Because of the unique nature of email contact and the prevalence of email in our everyday communication, a new set of challenges have arisen when it comes to the rules of email etiquette. One such rule is saying “thank you” via email.
The Leading Virtually Digest, May 23, 2008
What: CIO News article interviewing CIOs who believe virtual collaboration tools enable creativity when properly chosen and implemented. Posts to which it is related: Virtual Teams – Beneficial or Detrimental?, Leading to Increase Commitment in Virtual World Collaboration, The Future of Virtual Teams: Collaboration in 3D Web. Bottom Line: The article recaps what several CIOs had to say during an… Read more →
Recruiting for Virtual Collaboration and Virtual Teams
Without a doubt, technology plays an important role in the modern workplace. In most organizations, employees must have certain technology skills in order to complete their work. Most people in office jobs need to demonstrate proficiency with a word processor or spreadsheet; in some positions much more specific software proficiency is required. We seem to assume that proficiency with a… Read more →