Virtual Teams Case Study
Culture holds the key
There is the constant pressure placed on market standings among organisations, it is due to this that organisations strive to be the best and are constantly faced with having to change and adapt, one key aspect and influential variable is virtual teams. Best defined, virtual teams are a group of individuals belonging to an organisation working towards a common goal within the organisation, but are not geographically in the same location (Klitmoller and Lauring 2013; Dekker, Rutte and Van den Berg, 2008). Dekker et al. (2008), view on virtual teams are that, these teams are an emerging as a prominent trend. Additionally, virtual teams allow not only big organisation but small organizations to compete in the international …show more content…
Defining culture has proven to be challenging as culture is complex and multidisciplinary, however the first known definition of culture defines it as a complex whole that includes aspects of knowledge, believes, customs, art, morals, or laws, any aspect of life that allow individuals to be a member of society (Anawati et al., 2006 as cited in Holden, 2002). As a result of virtual teams consisting of members from different location, each member brings their own culture to the virtual team this however can affect communication among team members (Anawati et al. 2006). Anawati et al., (2006) expressed that different cultures may convey information differently as a way of communication, due to this members may find it difficult to interpret information by one another, thus influencing the team’s performance. Here it is highlighted that virtual teams should receive cross-cultural training with reference to the different cultures present among the team members, so that a framework can be developed and respect can be experienced from every team member (Anawati et al., 2006). Anawati et al. (2006), also encouraged virtual team members to physically meet, so that trust can form among members and that cross-cultural teams can perform more efficient as they are aware of the differences among their
There is the constant pressure placed on market standings among organisations, it is due to this that organisations strive to be the best and are constantly faced with having to change and adapt, one key aspect and influential variable is virtual teams. Best defined, virtual teams are a group of individuals belonging to an organisation working towards a common goal within the organisation, but are not geographically in the same location (Klitmoller and Lauring 2013; Dekker, Rutte and Van den Berg, 2008). Dekker et al. (2008), view on virtual teams are that, these teams are an emerging as a prominent trend. Additionally, virtual teams allow not only big organisation but small organizations to compete in the international …show more content…
Defining culture has proven to be challenging as culture is complex and multidisciplinary, however the first known definition of culture defines it as a complex whole that includes aspects of knowledge, believes, customs, art, morals, or laws, any aspect of life that allow individuals to be a member of society (Anawati et al., 2006 as cited in Holden, 2002). As a result of virtual teams consisting of members from different location, each member brings their own culture to the virtual team this however can affect communication among team members (Anawati et al. 2006). Anawati et al., (2006) expressed that different cultures may convey information differently as a way of communication, due to this members may find it difficult to interpret information by one another, thus influencing the team’s performance. Here it is highlighted that virtual teams should receive cross-cultural training with reference to the different cultures present among the team members, so that a framework can be developed and respect can be experienced from every team member (Anawati et al., 2006). Anawati et al. (2006), also encouraged virtual team members to physically meet, so that trust can form among members and that cross-cultural teams can perform more efficient as they are aware of the differences among their