Implementing Virtual Teams: A Guide to Organizational and Human Factors

Many organizations worldwide are currently exploring the potential gains to be made from working with virtual teams. Although many different things are meant by use of 'virtual' (and indeed by 'teams'), usually it denotes groups of people with common purpose and goals working in different locations and often different time zones; they will be interconnected via a variety of telecommunications networks, perhaps including the Internet and intranet, video conferencing, shared white boards, as well as telephone, mail and e-mail. For organizations implementing such virtual teams there is a great need for guidance, in terms of the organizational structure and support which needs to be put in place. This book offers a practical guide to developing virtual teams, providing both an overview of what is involved and also a clear simple framework around which organizations can build their own implementation process. Although the different support technologies are discussed (at a generic level), the thrust of the book is on the organizational and human factors issues which must be addressed to make virtual teams a success. It contains detailed case studies to show how virtual teams work and where they can go wrong.

About the Author

Abigail Edwards has lived and studied in Saudi Arabia, Malta, Belgium, France and the United Kingdom. She obtained a First Class Honours Masters Degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Nottingham University, and now works within European Supply Chain Logistics for Proctor and Gamble at their UK Headquarters in Weybridge. Her current role focuses on the design of communication and operational processes of a newly established manufacturing planning team that operates across upwards of 10 sites across Europe, yet must work day to day as a single, cohesive team. John R. Wilson was Professor of Occupational Ergonomics in the School of Mechanical, Materials, Manufacturing Engineering and Management, University of Nottingham. He was Director of The Institute for Occupational Ergonomics and Director of the Virtual Reality Applications Research Team. John was a Chartered Psychologist and a Chartered Engineer, and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Applied Ergonomics. He worked on, and managed, many European research and development projects, all of which were run through virtual teams, and so had first hand experience of the advantages - and pain - of working in this way.