Virtual Collaboration - Essay Example

tal technologies that enable organizations or individuals to collaborately plan, design, develop, manage, and research products, services, and innovative IT and E-Commerce applications” (Turban, McLean and Wetherbe 144). The current discourse hereby aims to present virtual collaboration through lessons learned from in-class and online events summaries, as perceived to be applicable in a future career. Virtual collaboration through social events was recognized to be the most popular, by far. The most relevant lessons learned from social events include the following: (1) selection of topics which are interesting to prospective participants; (2) using communication medium that would reach the target audience: social networking sites, email, smartphones, among others; (3) use of innovative approaches, like gamification; and (4) assignment of roles, or delegation of tasks by events’ organizers.

One learned that there are disparities in techniques in in-class versus online events. For in-class social events, there are opportunities for face-to-face interactions to augment virtual collaboration, when needed. For instance, organizers could require weekly face-to-face group meetings to resolve conflicts, iron out concerns, and monitor the progress of assigned tasks. In contrast, in purely on-line social events where there are no opportunities for face-to-face interactions, the participants rely solely on online or electronic medium to communicate.

As such, there should be regular interaction using various social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter) and other electronic medium (Skype, university sites, email). Major lessons learned from in-class activities that enriched one’s understanding of the topic are categorized as follows: (1) enhance opportunities for personal interaction with other members of the class which improved one’s confidence in interpersonal communication; (2) commitment to cultural diversity within the university encouraged one’s respect for