Impact of Virtual Teams in the Workplace

Virtual teams function through information technologies, and are becoming more prominent as globalization increases in the world today. Members of virtual teams are dispersed in different locations, as they operate globally. Virtual team members interact electronically, and might meet face-to-face occasionally.

Our society is transforming towards knowledge-based work, which emphasizes that knowledge is a major competitive advantage. Organizations are moving from production-based to knowledge-based operations. Globalization and organizational learning processes are causing the need for virtual teams to increase dramatically. Virtual teams motivate members to collaborate and share knowledge, even though distance might seem to limit this interaction. Global organizations rely on virtual operations to balance their human capital.

In order for virtual teams to be effective, members of the teams need to have the ability to effectively communicate through technology. Many believe that members should meet early in team development, to provide for organizational effectiveness.

Globalization is essentially about the opening up of new boundaries, and rising technology has allowed our environment to be characterized as a global one. Global economies give businesses the opportunity to market product and services all around the world. Globalization has also allowed companies to establish alliances, which has become vital for success in business today.

Virtual teams develop for several different purposes, depending on the objectives of the specific organization. For example, team members might not be physically collocated. It might not be practical for members to travel, in order to meet in person. Another possible reason may be beca...

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...discover how to effectively develop and manage virtual teams.

Teams are not designed the same way they were in past generations. The nature of teams has changed dramatically because of changes in organizations and the nature of the work they do. Relationships between people inside an organization and those outside are becoming increasingly important. Organizations have realized the value of collaborative work. Knowledge management has become significant in organizations, emphasizing the learning of members of the organization so that is available to the entire organization. Virtual teams are having more of an impact as organizations develop across geography and across industries.

Works Cited

McShane, Steven L., and Mary Ann Von Glinow. Organizational Behavior: Emerging Knowledge and Practice for the Real World. 5th ed. New York: Paul Ducham, 2010. Print.