One of the key benefits our clients enjoy from using our hosted software services has been their ability to access our software – and therefore their data and projects – from any computer in any location 24/7. This level of access has meant that individuals can now work in teams that are not necessarily all located in the same office or even in the same town or Local Authority! 
 
Web-enabled technologies such as our e-Consultation, interactive mapping and content management systems all lend themselves to Local Authorities looking to increase IT efficiencies and cost savings by sharing software and the workloads associated with using that software.
 
However, working in ‘Virtual Teams’ presents new challenges to how people meet the demands of their workflows and workload particularly when other team members are not in the same room or building as them. Not all of these challenges can be met by technology alone.
 
Ian Fleming, author of The Virtual Teams Pocketbook, provides an overview at The Web Publishing Portal of what makes a good virtual team. Ian has spent his career working in organisations helping teams and individuals develop their potential and cope with change. The result is a wealth of practical knowledge and experience that he shares with others who may face similar situations. [more]
 

Virtually – the way forward

 
Whilst the benefits of team working have been known for many years, a new type of team is evolving. A team often put together using the best skills available, across a variety of locations, organisations or continents – yet one that may never meet.
 
With the advances in technology, the globalisation of business and the need to create products in shorter time pressures, new ways of working started to develop. Virtual Teams (VTs) started to appear in the language of organisations during the 1990’s. They weren’t planned; they simply evolved.
 
Now the best brains plus skilled people and companies with complimentary interests and experiences are finding creative ways to respond to business challenges and market opportunities.
 
Whilst the case for Virtual Team working is well made – i.e. costs, time, sharing knowledge etc – it’s easy to fall into the trap of assuming that:
 
Virtual Teams are like normal teams with people based in different places
 
Whilst this has some truth, much of what we know about teams is based on learning gained in face-to-face situations. Virtual Teams demand a different range of skills.
 
All teams need leaders and a worthwhile goal to aim for, plus an effective way of working, but in addition VTs face the task of building unity within a group of people who may rarely – if ever – meet and work across time zones. So, don’t make the mistake of simply transferring what you know about teams to new virtual situations.
 
Virtual Teams are all about technology
 
Wrong. Whilst technology plays a major part on how teams operate, success comes from applying inspirational leadership, developing trust, blending the skills available and encouraging both participation and accountability. It’s the human side of getting people to co-operate and work together that is key. Don’t fall into the trap of getting obsessed with technology – people make teams successful and not machines.
 
Virtual Teams will always work if they have the best people.
 
No team is guaranteed success. Even picking the best players doesn’t ensure you’ll be successful – as we see with national sports teams.
 
Teams fall short of their potential for many reasons from setting unrealistic goals and expectations to a failure of the leader to inspire their followers.
 
Many VTs have people from different countries and cultures (in simple terms culture being ‘the way people behave’). If the challenges this presents aren’t recognised and allowed for, then the team is likely to hit problems.
 
Remember that your contact with each other may be remote, but that you are dealing with human beings. You each have feelings; needs, hopes and aspirations that you want met.
 
So instead of emailing, pick up the phone and talk to people.
 
Also don’t undervalue the impact of saying thanks to people – not only when things go well but especially in difficult times. It’s easy to feel isolated and your efforts ignored.
 
Finally, enjoy it – virtual working is here to stay.
 
(If you want to know more about VTs and how to make them successful, then post your questions on line. Should you have your own experiences – good or bad – then please share them.)