virtual_teams

VIRTUAL TEAMS

A virtual team is a team of people that can be based in many different locations, and through the use of networks people can share files and communicate with other members of the team. Virtual teams do not operate like traditonal physical teams, as their requirements reflect a whole new way of communicating, working collaboratively, sharing information and mutually supporting other team members. Despite the challenges of working in different ways, technology has allowed people to work cooperately and share knowledge quickly and easily reguardless of time, distance and organisational boundaries.

- members may be widely-separated geographically - members are often in different time zones - members most often speak different languages - agreed conventions (//example: image formats - jpeg, gif, bmp)//
 * Characteristics of a Virtual Team:**

- Cheap (no airfares, accommodation, wasted work time) - Can bring the most talented people into the team reguardless of where they live - Physical disabilities are less likely to rule out a team member.
 * Advantages Virtual Teams:**

- visual (can see each other) - aural (can hear each other) - text - synchronous (in real time) - asynchronous (not in real time)
 * Common Virtual Team tools:**

__advantages__ - immediate, issues sorted quickly __disadvantages__ - has to be attended to immediately, disruptive, hard to co-ordinate a suitable time for all members, instance responses or decisions may be required. __advantages__ - can spend time contemplating a response or decision, can collect and deal with a message or problem when it is conveneint to the team member __disadvantage__ - considerable time lag between sending the message and recieving an answer, unable to do quick follow-up questions, discussion may take a lot of slow back-and-fourth correspondence, lacks a 'human touch' (team members not seen as real people).
 * Synchronous:**
 * Asynchronous:**

Common hardware and software that is used by a virtual team can include email, instant messaging, webcams, mobile phones, shared calendars, websites, networked databasesproject management tools (//gantt chart//), mail courier, fax and video conferencing.
 * Common hardware/software:**

Security that is used by a virtual team can consist of secure login username and passords, encrypted documents, SSL (secure websites), Virtual Private Networks (secure internet channels) and virus/malware/trojan/spam filters.
 * Security:**

Need: - a secure place for storing data, documents, discussion threads etc so team members can access the shared data, and add, modify or delete it. - different privileges for different team members, depending on their data needs. - team members can read and write documents associated iwth the project from nearly any location. - access may be given through a wireless connection on a laptop, a secured web page through an internet cafe etc. - when writing or editing documents team members often want input from others on the team. - team members need a quick method of inviting someone else to view the same data, jointly navigate through a document, and to permit the other person to directly change the text they've been writing. - teams need a calendaring and scheduling system that automatically coordinates team members' personal appointments, whole-organisation meetings and project team events. - blogs and instant messaging systems display the real-time presence of others. - enable real-time discussions. - help build team solidarity via spontaneous face-to-face teamwork. - teams need a way of tracking who is doing what and what needs to be done next.
 * What Virtual Teams**
 * 1) Shared Access to Team Data**
 * 2)**﻿ **Location-Independent Access to Data, People and Applications**
 * 3) Real-Time Joint Editing and Review**
 * 4) Coordinate Schedules**
 * 5) Build Social Engagement**
 * 6) Project Management**