Organizational Model forInnovation & Virtual Teams

By Rachel Bjerstedt

How do virtual teams contribute to innovation?Virtual teams differ from traditional teams at least on

two characteristics: geographical dispersion technology-mediated communication

Advantages of Virtual Teams increased productivity, better knowledge sharing and cost savings by using less office space.

Disadvantages of Virtual Teamspoor collaboration & distrust, increased stress, work-life imbalance technological problems.

(Leede. J., Kraan , K., Hengst, M., & van Hooff, M., 2008)

Types of Virtual TeamsNetworked TeamsParallel TeamsProject or Product Development TeamsWork, Functional, or Production TeamsService TeamsManagement TeamsAction Teams

(Duarte, D., & Tennant Snyder, N., 2006)

Focus of Virtual Team Research

(Powell, Piccoli and Ives 2004)

Myth: Virtual Team Member don’t Need AttentionPerformance Management & Coaching

Develop team’s visions, mission, and strategyNegotiate accountabilities of Team MembersIdentify results oriented performance

MeasuresIndividual Performance & Coaching

Provide Timely FeedbackInteract on a Regular BasisAdapt to Cross-Cultural differences

(Duarte, D., & Tennant Snyder, N., 2006)

ReferencesLeede. J., Kraan , K., Hengst, M., & van Hooff, M., (2008)

Conditions for innovation behaviour of virtual team members: a ‘high-road’ for internationally dispersed virtual teams. The Journal of E-working. Pages 22-46, Vol 2, retrieved from http://www.inderscience.com/www/info/ijwi/art/tjew2103.pdf

Powell, Piccoli and Ives (2004) Virtual teams: a review of current literature and directions for future research. The DATA BASE for Advances in Information Systems - Winter Vol. 35, issue 1, 2004.) Retrieved from Wikimedia at http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Diagram_of_the_focus_of_virtual_team_research_%28Powell%2C_Piccoli_and_Ives%2C_2004%2C_p.8%29.png

Duarte, D., & Tennant Snyder, N., (2006) Mastering virtual teams: strategies, tools, and techniques that succeed. 3rd Edition. Retrieved from Google Books at http://books.google.com/books?id=e0DTT2DKOScC&lpg=PR10&ots=g3Jju7x7xG&dq=types%20of%20virtual%20teams&lr&pg=PA5#v=onepage&q=types%20of%20virtual%20teams&f=true