Virtual Project Teams

MGMT 526 – Project Management

by

Mazher Abdul Qayyum

Virtual Teams
 Project team crosses Time, Space,
Organizational, or Cultural boundaries

 e-Projects

 Tele-Commuting
Why Virtual Teams?
Cost Benefits

Skilled Resource may be located anywhere in the world.

Work productivity is 24hrs vs. 8 hrs.

Workers tend to be more Productive; i.e., they spend less time on

Commuting and Travel

The increasing Globalization of Trade and Corporate Activity.

Creates Alliances and Mergers between Organizations.

Technological Sophistication.
Characteristics of Virtual Teams
Interaction
Members may never meet each other in person.

Time Separation
People may not be available to interact with each other during certain
time periods.

Language
This communication challenge increases the chances that people may
incorrectly interpret a message.

Culture
Members may come from different organizational and cultural
environments. People’s work styles and communication practices may
differ.
Characteristics of Virtual Teams
Characteristic Impact
Reduces Communication Frequency
Reduces informal communication
Distance lowers communication richness
Impacts productive architecture
Impacts choice of process/development strategy
Inhibits the use of synchronous communication
Time Separation Affects the selection of communication media/type
Affects task allocation
Affects the selection of communication media / type
Language Difference
Communication Effectiveness
Affects group decision-making
Cross-Cultural Differences Team performance
Communication Effectiveness
Affects the type technological infrastructure and communication
Introduces human resource staff of different skill and productivity
Multiple sites
Increases management overhead
Introduces the challenge of team building, especially establishing and maintaining trust
Managing Virtual Teams

Complex Challenge
Because of characteristics, discussed earlier, virtual teams creates
complex challenge for Project Managers.

These challenges can be over come by efficient system of:

 Communication and

 Collaboration
Managing Virtual Teams - 1
Team Structure
Part of Team,
Share Organization’s Structure
Key contacts
Admin, Personnel, IT Support

Team Assessment
Assessment at regular intervals
Visit to Project Office
Project Audit
Managing Virtual Teams - 2
Team Recognition
e-Recognitions

Team Interaction
Project Kick Off Meetings
Webcasts
In Person Orientation
Supporting Virtual Teams
High-performance team members must successfully accomplish the
following tasks:

Share Information
Share project and team-related information in a timely and
accurate manner

Interpersonal Relationships
Create and sustain trusting and productive interpersonal
relationships

Collaboration
Effectively collaborate to perform project work
Technology Support
Software that aids virtual team functioning can be
separated into two main categories:

Software that provides:

Ease of Communication

Provides Task and Document Organization.

Organization
 Communication Technology - 1
Software that improves the ease of communication
often includes features such as presence awareness,
instant messaging, and web conferencing.

Email
Online Collaboration
Telecommunications
Virtual Meetings
Communication Technology - 2
Communication Need Approach Application
Sharing factual information; confirming
and recording discussions and
Share project-related information e-mail
agreements

Storing plans; entering, storing and

reporting on progress data; storing
  Company intranet project-management forms and
procedures

Discussing and clarifying issues

  Video Conferencing

Introducing new team members;

acknowledging team and individual
Support interpersonal relationships Video Conferencing
accomplishments

Interactive web Discussing topics; meetings;

Collaborate on project activities brainstorming
conferencing
Discussing topics; meetings;
  Videoconferencing brainstorming

  e-mail Sharing data, reports

Collaboration Technology
More effective communications
Rich and Flexible Experience
ROI Factors
 Modern Day Communications
Available communication technology can address a wide range of the virtual
team’s routine communication needs.

When possible, however, people should meet in person to periodically

reinforce their relationships and the team’s focus and identity.
Few Questions...
Question Yea Nay
Have you ever “Tele-commuted”?    

Do you want to be a part of Virtual Project Team?    

Do you you think Social neworking websites be

allowed to access in Office?    

Technological Advances helps both traditional

and Virtual teams become efficient?    

Do you see an app like ex. "Twitter" be used in

workplaces in future?    
Modern Trends?
May be Twitter (Twitter like app) @ Workplace .....???
References
Jack R. Meredith, Samuel J. Mantel, "Project Management, A managerial Approach".

David I. Cleland, Roland Gareis, "Global Project Management Handbook".

Gerard M. Hill, "The Complete Project Management Office Handbook".

Gretchen Lang, "Cross-cultural training : How much difference does it really make?" The
New York Times, January 24, 2004.

Mike Rolfes, "Virtual Project Management",

http://www.umsl.edu/~sauterv/analysis/488_f01_papers/rolfes.htm

Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_team.