The idea to write my master’s thesis on “Organization and Management of Virtual Teams” arose during the 6th term of my studies, which was an exceptional term in many ways.
I was part of several teams then, which is nothing extraordinary, I guess. What made those teams special were the people I was working with – or better – I got the possibility to work with.
I had worked in teams before in the course of my studies and had had some really bad experience with lazy and unproductive people, who simply couldn’t or did not want to identify with tasks and goals of various projects.
What was so special with those teams in the summer term of 1999 was, that most of the team members could identify with the goals set, they worked, they tried really hard to stick to deadlines and targets, they took justified criticism as positive feedback, they were punctual, they communicated and so on – in short: I was part of some very, very productive, purposeful teams (one of the results was that I did my most successful term that term – the work of nearly two terms during this one).
Well, two seminars during this spring were dealing with the topic “Virtual teams” and I got really interested in. So I decided to do my master’s thesis on this subject. I found a nice and easy going supervisor who was interested in the topic, as well, and I started to write on the thesis at the end of my stay in Stockholm, Sweden, as an ERASMUS exchange student.
But why this topic, why a thesis on virtual teams? Several reasons should be mentioned:
My interest in the topic: Since I am studying “Wirtschaftsinformatik” (Economical Computer Science, a mixture between economics and computer science), I am interested in both economics and technology. What topic suits that combination better than “Virtual Teams”, which have to work for economic reasons across distances and organizational borders – all this with the help of the latest technology.
The challenge: Not a lot was written about the subject “Virtual Teams” when I started to look for literature suitable for my thesis. I hardly could find books in Sweden and the ones I finally chose I had to order from the US (which is also a reason why this thesis is written in English, because all the literature I used was written in English). So it was quite a challenge (but exciting) to write about something new...
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Just Some Concepts
1.2 Why Virtual Teams?
1.2.1 And The Definition Of “Virtual Team” Is...?
1.2.2 Close Is Really Close
1.2.3 Four Ages Of Small Groups
1.2.4 Market Insecurity And Product Complexity
1.3 Benefits / Barriers Of Virtual Teams
2 ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF VIRTUAL TEAMS
2.1 Groups And Teams
2.1.1 What Makes A Team Virtual?
2.2 Distinguishing Virtual Teams From “Other” Teams
2.3 The Importance Of Vision/Mission/Goal
2.3.1 All In One - Purpose
2.4 Team Size, Roles And Leadership
2.4.1 Team Size
2.4.2 Roles
2.4.3 Singular Or Shared Leadership
2.4.3.1 Social And Task Leadership
2.4.4 Locomotion And Cohesion
2.4.4.1 How To Support Cohesion
3 TRUST
3.1 Why Is Trust That Important?
3.2 B³ - Builders, Busters And Benefits Of Trust
3.2.1 How To Build Trust
3.2.2 Collocated vs. Virtual Teams – A Comparison Building Trust
3.2.3 Enemies Of Trust – How To Defeat Them
4 COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION
4.1 Benefits And Challenges Of Technology Supported Teamwork
4.2 When, What, How
4.2.1 “The Medium Is The Message”
4.2.2 One, Many And FEW
4.2.3 Digital Media Is Different
4.2.4 When To Use What And How
4.3 Social Issues
4.3.1 Face-2-Face Communication
4.3.1.1 Eye Contact And Gaze, Gestures And Body Language
4.3.2 Text-Based Communication
4.3.2.1 Pace And Granularity
4.4 Common Material
4.5 Practical Issues
4.5.1 Online Etiquette
5 SOHO – SMALL OFFICE / HOME OFFICE
6 COMPANY A
7 COMPANY B
8 COMPANY C
9 COMPANY D
10 COMPANY E
11 COMPANY F
12 CONCLUSION
13 ...AND THE FUTURE?
Objectives and Topics
This thesis explores the organizational dynamics, management challenges, and communication strategies essential for the success of virtual teams in a global business environment. By synthesizing theoretical frameworks with empirical insights from six corporate case studies, the research seeks to define the drivers of virtual teamwork and establish best practices for leadership, trust-building, and technological collaboration.
- Theoretical foundations of virtual organizations and small group dynamics.
- Management strategies for overcoming geographical and cultural barriers.
- The role of trust and communication media in distributed team success.
- Comparative analysis of virtual team practices in international companies.
- Emergence of SOHO (Small Office / Home Office) as a modern work configuration.
Excerpt from the Book
1.2.4 Market Insecurity And Product Complexity
As long as stable conditions prevailed in the markets, the companies supplies– relatively simple products produced in large numbers – dominated the markets. As long as these conditions where valid, the classical organizational principles such as hierarchy with tayloristic characteristics guaranteed success for these companies (Reichwald, Möslein, 1996, p9ff).
Today, many companies face dramatically changed market and competitive conditions. Reichwald and Möslein describe three different strategies of reorganization to cope with these new conditions, focusing on market insecurity and product complexity (Figure 1-4).
Modular Organization (field 2)
The increasing complexity of products and services demand new concepts. Companies react by modulating the structure of the company, that is restructuring the organization into relatively small, manageable units based on integrated, customer oriented processes. Modular units are characterized by decentralized decision competence and result responsibility, communicating increasingly by non-hierarchic communication forms. The common fundamental idea of this concept is applied on different levels of the company: starting at the level of work-organization by forming autonomous groups till subdividing the whole company into greatly extended independent profit-centers.
Possible advantages of this type of strategy are better contact with markets and customers, cost, transport and supply advantages, or increasing quality of life for employees.
Summary of Chapters
1 INTRODUCTION: Defines the conceptual landscape of the thesis and explores why virtual teams have become an inevitable organizational response to technological and market evolution.
2 ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT OF VIRTUAL TEAMS: Analyzes the structural definitions of virtual teams, the importance of purpose, and the critical role of leadership and team composition.
3 TRUST: Explores trust as the foundation of virtual teamwork, detailing strategies for building trust and identifying common "trust busters" in distributed environments.
4 COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION: Examines how technology supports teamwork and provides guidelines for the effective use of different communication media based on interactivity and organizational need.
5 SOHO – SMALL OFFICE / HOME OFFICE: Offers an overview of the SOHO model as an emerging form of collaborative and information-intensive work.
6-11 COMPANY A-F: Presents six empirical case studies across different industries, highlighting personal experiences, cultural perspectives, and specific management tactics used in practice.
12 CONCLUSION: Synthesizes the findings from theory and practice, summarizing the key advantages, challenges, and success factors identified across the research.
13 ...AND THE FUTURE?: Reflects on the ongoing evolution of virtual teams, the impact of future technologies, and the potential for interpersonal development in global work structures.
Keywords
Virtual Teams, Organization, Management, Information Technology, Trust, Communication, Collaboration, Global Business, Leadership, Team Dynamics, SOHO, Knowledge Management, Case Studies, Distributed Work, Organizational Culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this master's thesis?
The thesis focuses on the organizational and management aspects of virtual teams, specifically how they operate, how they manage communication, and how they build successful collaborative relationships across distances.
What are the primary themes discussed in the work?
The core themes include the definition and evolution of virtual teams, the mechanics of trust-building, effective communication strategies, the role of leadership in distributed environments, and the emergence of modern office models like SOHO.
What is the primary research objective?
The research aims to bridge the gap between theoretical models of virtual teaming and practical applications by analyzing real-world experiences through corporate case studies.
What scientific methods were employed?
The author utilized a qualitative approach, primarily conducting six in-depth interviews with professionals working in virtual teams, supplemented by an extensive literature review and theoretical framework analysis.
What aspects of team management does the main body cover?
It covers vision and goal setting, team size and role distribution, the dynamics of shared vs. singular leadership, and the strategies for maintaining cohesion despite physical separation.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include Virtual Teams, Trust, Communication, Collaboration, Leadership, Global Organization, and Distributed Work.
How does the thesis address the issue of cultural differences in virtual teams?
The work discusses cultural differences not as insurmountable barriers but as challenges that can be mitigated through open communication, understanding of diverse work mentalities, and, in some cases, employing local leaders to manage local teams.
What is the author's stance on the use of email versus face-to-face communication?
The author notes that while email is essential for efficiency in global operations, it is often inadequate for complex or sensitive issues, where face-to-face interaction or phone calls are deemed necessary to ensure clear understanding and prevent misinterpretation.
- Quote paper
- Andreas Pfneisl (Author), 2001, Organization and Management of Virtual Teams, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/185666
