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Collaborative tools - Aiding Software for Virtual Teams
Virtual teams are often spread all over the globe, ranging from different offices to different cultures; so how is it that they can remain on track with objectives and come together to achieve goals to contribute to the organization? The answer is that they use collaborative technology--in particular they use software that allows virtual teams to be as efficient as same-location teams.
Software that aids virtual team functioning can be separated into two main categories--software that provides ease of communication and software that provides task and document organization.
Software that improves the ease of communication often includes features such as presence awareness, instant messaging, and web conferencing. These tools allow team member to be accessible to their teams 24 hours a day. Members can have real time conversations and do not have to follow lengthy correspondence as dispersed teams have had to in the past, which leads to greater efficiency.
Software applications that organize team tasks and documents also improve their teams' efficiency. These programs consist of a central location where all members can access important documents to the team, track progress made, assign tasks, and even provide calendars with key dates and timelines to keep all members current.
There are many software programs for virtual teams, such as Lotus software by IBM, NetMeeting by Microsoft, Facilitate.com by Facilitate.com, Thinktank by GroupSystems, and many more. Software of this type is a fast-developing area, so organizations should look often for software programs that suit the size and functionality of their teams.
References
• Business Edge. (2006). Team-building key for virtual workplace. Retrieved June 20, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://www.businessedge.ca/article.cfm/newsID/10076.cfm
• Geographically Dispersed Teams (1999). Valerie Sessa et al. ISBN 1-882197-54-2
• Duarte, D.L., & Snyder, N.T. (2006). Mastering Virtual Teams (3rd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. ISBN-10: 0787982806
• Hertel, G., Geister, S., & Konradt, U. (2005). Managing virtual teams: A review of current empirical research. Human Resource Management Review, 15, 69-95. ISSN: 1053-4822
External links
• A list of links and articles on virtual teams and virtual team management (StartWright) http://www.startwright.com/virtual.htm
• Working in Virtual Teams: Overcoming Time and Geography? (Chris Kimble, University of York) http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~kimble/teaching/mis/Distributed_Team_Work.html
• Effective Virtual Teams through Communities of Practice (Chris Kimble, Barlow Alexis, and Feng Li) http://ssrn.com/abstract=634645
• Virtual Teams (Robert Davison, ISWORLD) http://www.is.cityu.edu.hk/research/resources/isworld/virtualteams/index.htm
• A toolbox for leading virtual teams (Helsinki University of Technology / Humap Ltd) http://vitaltool.tkk.fi/
Virtual teams are often spread all over the globe, ranging from different offices to different cultures; so how is it that they can remain on track with objectives and come together to achieve goals to contribute to the organization? The answer is that they use collaborative technology--in particular they use software that allows virtual teams to be as efficient as same-location teams.
Software that aids virtual team functioning can be separated into two main categories--software that provides ease of communication and software that provides task and document organization.
Software that improves the ease of communication often includes features such as presence awareness, instant messaging, and web conferencing. These tools allow team member to be accessible to their teams 24 hours a day. Members can have real time conversations and do not have to follow lengthy correspondence as dispersed teams have had to in the past, which leads to greater efficiency.
Software applications that organize team tasks and documents also improve their teams' efficiency. These programs consist of a central location where all members can access important documents to the team, track progress made, assign tasks, and even provide calendars with key dates and timelines to keep all members current.
There are many software programs for virtual teams, such as Lotus software by IBM, NetMeeting by Microsoft, Facilitate.com by Facilitate.com, Thinktank by GroupSystems, and many more. Software of this type is a fast-developing area, so organizations should look often for software programs that suit the size and functionality of their teams.
References
• Business Edge. (2006). Team-building key for virtual workplace. Retrieved June 20, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://www.businessedge.ca/article.cfm/newsID/10076.cfm
• Geographically Dispersed Teams (1999). Valerie Sessa et al. ISBN 1-882197-54-2
• Duarte, D.L., & Snyder, N.T. (2006). Mastering Virtual Teams (3rd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. ISBN-10: 0787982806
• Hertel, G., Geister, S., & Konradt, U. (2005). Managing virtual teams: A review of current empirical research. Human Resource Management Review, 15, 69-95. ISSN: 1053-4822
External links
• A list of links and articles on virtual teams and virtual team management (StartWright) http://www.startwright.com/virtual.htm
• Working in Virtual Teams: Overcoming Time and Geography? (Chris Kimble, University of York) http://www-users.cs.york.ac.uk/~kimble/teaching/mis/Distributed_Team_Work.html
• Effective Virtual Teams through Communities of Practice (Chris Kimble, Barlow Alexis, and Feng Li) http://ssrn.com/abstract=634645
• Virtual Teams (Robert Davison, ISWORLD) http://www.is.cityu.edu.hk/research/resources/isworld/virtualteams/index.htm
• A toolbox for leading virtual teams (Helsinki University of Technology / Humap Ltd) http://vitaltool.tkk.fi/
