| The professional world uses teams in almost all | | | | same work hours. When you separate the team |
| aspects of their businesses. We have found that | | | | members with miles and time zones, each person |
| productivity and profit generally rises with the use | | | | must make adjustments to their schedule on a |
| of effective teams. But along with the use of | | | | daily basis in order to meet, contribute, and |
| effective teams, technology has also played a | | | | collaborate with the entire team. |
| major role in the rising of productivity and profit. | | | | Technology is the mighty issue that brought these |
| The world has now entered the year 2007 and | | | | teams together, but it can also be the reason |
| with that has come many advances in technology. | | | | why they could be separated. Internet |
| By using technology we are now able to create | | | | connections can falter, power can go out, |
| virtual teams, basically team members that can | | | | software can be outdated, and services that |
| be scattered throughout the United States or the | | | | provide internet meetings and conference calls |
| world and still work towards a common goal task. | | | | can experience problems. Each time one of these |
| It is necessary to point out that communication is | | | | things occurs, the virtual team falls behind in |
| essential in any team environment and with these | | | | reaching their goal. |
| team members have such distance between | | | | Misinterpretation happens in all team settings, but |
| them, virtual communication becomes necessary. | | | | in with virtual communication is can become a |
| While virtual team communication is becoming a | | | | much bigger problem. In a virtual world, you are |
| necessary evil in the workplace, especially in Global | | | | not using face to face, vocal communication. |
| business, it seems to have many more potential | | | | Instead you are typing out your ideas, |
| barriers than traditional face to face | | | | suggestions, and instructions to fellow team |
| communication between teams. Potential barriers | | | | members. Written communication is often |
| such as availability issues, technology issues, and | | | | misinterpreted either due to a member not fully |
| misinterpretation of communication will be | | | | reading the document or reading too much into |
| discussed in this paper. | | | | what someone is trying to say. The amount of |
| Availability of team members is huge in | | | | time between responses also contributes to |
| completing a team assignment. As a team you, | | | | misinterpretation. In a traditional setting you would |
| you must be able to collaborate. In a situation | | | | clear up the misunderstanding within minutes. |
| where your team members are spread miles and | | | | However in a virtual setting each member is |
| time zones apart, you will have scheduling | | | | forced to wait on the availability of the other. |
| conflicts. Time zones can also contribute to team | | | | In order for virtual teams to effectively |
| members not being able to fully contribute to the | | | | communicate, each member must be fully aware |
| assigned task. An example would be that a team | | | | of the potential barriers and take steps to |
| consisting of four individuals is asked to write | | | | overcome these barriers. Our world is advancing |
| report at 8:00am CST and turn it in by 5:00pm | | | | on a daily basis and we must learn to adapt to it. |
| CST. Most likely the team on EST time will have | | | | In the 1800’s a business owner wouldn’t |
| already done the bulk of the work before the | | | | have dreamed of having two locations placed |
| team on PST even knows they are supposed to | | | | hundreds of miles apart. Now, with technology we |
| be writing it. In a traditional work setting, the | | | | can do that. However, we must always be aware |
| team would an ample opportunity to meet | | | | of the barriers and conflicts that can come with |
| together throughout the day, since they are all | | | | this technology. |
| working in the same location with generally the | | | | |