Virtual teams are emerging as the basic unit for conducting business of all types. Studies show that over 80% of workers today are involved in some way with team members who are not physically located in the same office. Virtual communication networks have made virtual teams possible, while globalization has made them a necessity. Leading virtual teams presents new challenges to leaders and managers. Virtual team leaders must find ways to successfully manage people who are separated by distance, time zones, and cultural differences. This course offers leaders a framework for successfully leading virtual teams. It outlines the key competencies that members of virtual teams should possess and offers guidelines for specific virtual team activities, such as teleconferencing and decision making. It also highlights a variety of tools and technologies that are commonly used for collaboration on virtual teams and presents guidelines for knowing how to choose the right technologies for specific situations. Materials designed to support blended learning activities aligned with this course are available from the Resources Page.
Learning objectives
- Recognise the competencies that members of virtual teams should possess or develop
- Choose the best combination of virtual communication tools to use given a virtual team situation
- Classify examples of virtual team technologies as being for communication, conferencing, or information transfer and storage
- Identify key areas for consideration when setting guidelines for virtual teams
Audience
Employees at all levels who lead and manage teams and anyone who wishes to develop and refine their leadership skills in a team environment
