RESEARCH FOCUS -
BUILDING VIRTUAL TEAMS
Developing Virtual
Teams
Once the VT has been established, the team members
may not know each other, or have worked together as a team. It is
therefore essential that time is allowed for the team to familiarise
themselves with each other and the way the other members work. A series of
training exercises should be provided at an early stage. These can help
the team in a several ways:
- Awareness
of potential areas of conflict, their resolution and avoidance;
- Breaking
down any initial shyness and familiarisation barriers;
- Establishing
initial levels of trust and team spirit;
- Familiarisation
with significant cultural requirements and rituals;
- Indications
regarding speed of response can be obtained;
- Preferences
will be provided for working and communicating;
- The
team will begin to provide a history, and folk lore can be initiated;
These exercises should be undertaken in combination
with the normal preparations for project work. During this period, the VT
will also experience the normal team forming encounters, such as: Forming,
Storming, Norming and Performing. VT team building exercises will help to
minimise the impact of these encounters.
Because of the
nature of the VT, it is not always appropriate to provide the training to
all members, together, at a single site. Therefore, it is important that
the exercises should be capable of being undertaken remotely, whilst
including a participatory element. Some examples of these exercises are
shown below.
VPT
Team Building Exercises
|
Characteristic
|
Exercise
|
|
Communications
|
Send and respond to e-mails from Individuals,
Specific Groups, The whole VT, VT Managers, Stakeholders.
Circulate common forms and documents, for comment and trials
Practice using different communications systems
|
|
Culture
|
Team introduce themselves and their company,
location, lifestyle
Establish, and update, a personal area on the project website
|
|
Home Team Social
|
Watch a film, Watch the ‘big game’ on TV,
Listen to the latest CD, read a book and discuss it in web pages,
e-mails etc.
|
|
Work Aspects
|
Describe the contribution they can make to the
project and VT
Describe the systems and technology used and their working style
Maintain a specific website area relating to the VT
|
Many conventional Team Building exercises could also
be adapted to the VT. However, the separation of the teams should also be
taken into account, by allowing additional time, or providing additional
reporting channels. Once the initial exercises have been completed, team
members will be more aware of the team, its ways of working and living.
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