Technology and virtual team - Essay Example

Technology and Virtual team Virtual team has proven to be an essential factor that has improved the work performance in the global world. The organizations in the modern world have globally adopted the modern strategies of running the business. Various entrepreneurs have adopted various business strategies to magnify their profits and market share in the modern world. The adoption of the virtual team is a strategy that has been adopted by the modern world businesses. Virtual team is a group of individuals who are working across boundaries, organizations linked by the internet.

The group of workers brought together by the telecommunication and information technologies to accomplish the organizations goals and objectives. Virtual team can be referred to as a geographically or time dispersed knowledgeable workers who manage and coordinate their work with the help of electronic information and the communication technologies (Lipnack 15). The virtual team members communicate electronically and may find themselves not meeting face to face. The coordination between the virtual members is made possible with the help of the fiber optic technology.

The fiber optic is a new technological advancement that has been adopted by a number of companies. Fiber optic has proven to be essential to many businesses since it has relatively increased the scope of offsite communication (Lipnack 20). The virtual teams give companies the opportunity to achieve their dreams without the restrictions from the geographical ground. The virtual teams require new techniques of running business across the boundaries through processes, systems, people and technology, which largely depend on quality and effective leadership.

The virtual team have made their business relationship easier with the help of the internet that is globally changing due to technological advancements. The high availability and access of internet, development of the fiber optic network globally and the emergence of the long distance and offshore communication technologies has made it easier for business individuals worldwide to work together (Godar 21). Virtual team has created a global link that has enabled individuals to plug, compete and compete, share work and knowledge making it a unique business communication pattern (Godar 22).

The new communication system has proved to be advantageous by providing new unique business strategies that were not available earlier. The availability of modern technology like online video conferencing has made it possible for entrepreneurs to successfully pass their information and attend business meetings without availing themselves face to face. This has been made possible by the new technology of interlinking computer networks. This interlink has not only made local businesses to communicate but has also made it possible for the international companies to interlink and communicate through the internet network.

The technologically based virtual teamwork has enhanced the shift of the production-based work to the service business generating new business ideas that make the workers no longer bound to the manual work. These factors have forced modern companies to shift to the pre modern technologically based techniques of running the business. The changes have been evident due to the challenges been faced by firms that are technologically backward in the market. The increase in globalization and corporate activities has increased market pressure to be innovative and produce high quality commodities and services in the global market.

This issue has made companies to come up with a technical advanced team of experts known as the global virtual team to come up standardized and best available commodities in the market. The virtual team differs with other teams due to various factors. Cultural differences, functionality, technological knowhow and geographical limitations are the major factors that make the virtual team unique. The virtual team members are quickly formed and are agile in nature. Their nature makes them more effective and responsive to changes in the competitive world.

According to research, virtual teams are able to increase their productivity due to their personal flexibility. The increase in the in the virtual team productivity is enhanced by the fast changing technology that has made most of the business activities flexible, efficient and effective to carry out. According to research, success of a firm begins with the flexibility of the team players especially the employees. Through the advancement of the technology, the virtual team members are able to relay information globally.

This has made possible by the availability of the internet. The availability of remote computer connection, wireless technology and the conferencing systems have proven to be beneficial to businesses. This is because business partners can join in complex discussions at any location in the world. Virtual teams can help organizations reduce labor and the overhead costs (Gibson & Susan 10). There is availability of cheap labor force and skillful labor forces in the worldwide market who do not want to relocate from their geographical location.

Access of communication technology to the labor forces leads companies to shift to offshore business. The involvement of technology in the in the virtual team has benefits that enable the success of a businesses. However, virtual team has a number challenges that affect the running of the businesses. These challenges include poor management and leadership, communication deficiency and incompetent team players. Works Cited Gibson, Cristina B., and Susan G. Cohen. Virtual teams that work creating conditions for virtual team effectiveness.

San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2003. Print. Godar, Susan Hayes. Virtual and collaborative teams process, technologies, and practice. Hershey, Penn.: Idea Group Pub., 2004. Print. Lipnack, Jessica. Virtual Teams People Working Across Boundaries with Technology. 2nd ed. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2000. Print.