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WEEK 2 PROJECT
Mark Wrublewski
South University
MGT3035
Dr Flores
8/15/19
Virtual Projects
Virtual projects are projects that are implemented by people living in different cities and countries. These are projects that do not require an office. Instead of a traditional office, they use a virtual Internet office (online project management system), in which information is stored, collaboration and communication of the project team takes place. Online projects can also include cases where a company with an office makes extensive use of remote workers and online outsourcing.
The economic feasibility of such projects is obvious. No need to spend money on office rental and its infrastructure. In addition, the use of freelancers is typical for online projects, which reduces tax deductions and optimizes the number of project participants. The main thing is that the choice of professionals for the project is not limited to one city. The project manager can attract the most talented and most suitable participants from around the world.
Lead at a distance
The introduction of virtual teamwork in traditional organizations is often associated with reservations or even resistance from senior executives, especially at the middle management level. "Leading on distance" is viewed critically, on the one hand because the usual personal contact is given only very reduced and on the other hand because with this form of leadership often the experience is missing. “When multifaceted administrations conduct projects, virtual positions are typical since projects typically entail input from numerous functional departments”( Meredith and Mantel, 2014, p. 172).
The spatial-temporal-organizational distance
The members of virtual teams have reservations, but far fewer reservations, about possible inadequate (informal) direct communication with their project leader and other project staff (social isolation and social identity). The spatial-temporal-organizational distance requires or promotes a high degree of independence of the individual . This can also lead to loner behavior and thus hinder the emergence of a “WE” feel. It sometimes hampers the formation of a trusting group climate , which is an essential factor for cooperation and identification with the project .
Virtual communication issues
Most information manipulations in the information society take place through interactive forms of interaction and influence, which significantly speed up the process of obtaining and processing information. In this way, live communication becomes depreciated, virtual, profitable, and affordable, allowing for a large amount of information flow to be processed as quickly as possible.
Virtual communication involves new iconic systems, creating a new language for the information society. The new signaling system acts as a communication tool on the network and also controls information flows. Via the virtual language, Internet users express themselves and transmit important information. (Chen, 2017).
The individual is realized and exists through virtual "I" speech, which has the following characteristics: situationally, inadequacy as opposed to ordinary speech; ability to communicate with more people. By communicating with multiple Internet users at once, the individual may be successful, but in the future, this may have a negative role in communication.
Virtual communication and real connectivity are very different. During virtual communication, Internet users pay attention to the horizon, intelligence, humor, ability of the conversation partner to carry out the conversation, paint the images as they wish, and provide them with non-existent features. (Rad & Levin, 2013).
The main problem with virtual dating is that the longer people talk over the internet, the more differences there will be in the pictures. If future internet users are planning to keep dating in life, psychologists advise against delaying virtual communication and translating it as soon as possible. However, this does not guarantee inconsistencies of disappointments, misleading expectations and realistic representations.
Working in virtual teams
When working in virtual teams, it is important to find out the best possible mix of forms of communication (face-to-face, electronic media) and the optimal communication frequency. So, it is of great advantage, if the project staff, at least in the initial phase of the project , meet for a face-to-face meeting (e.g. kick-off meeting ), which makes it possible to get to know the persons involved and make personal contact. On the one hand, this involves the clarification of the project assignment and the associated task assignment and, on the other hand, the development of a common understanding of the form of cooperation as a team. (A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge,2013,p.84)
Project management and leadership of virtual project teams
In the literature, the topic of project management and leadership is considered controversial in the context of virtual project teams. On the one hand, it is assumed that leadership and control of such structures is not possible. On the other hand, the need for leadership in virtual project teams is even called into question.
The few available empirical findings show that the electronic media used still favor the goal and task orientation in principle. On the other hand, they are less conducive or even a hindrance to the development and stabilization of the basic social needs of employees (social contacts and recognition, social comparison, cooperative competition). (Rad & Levin, 2013).
Self-organization and self-control
It can be assumed that virtual teams have a high degree of self-organization and self-control based on the autonomy and self-responsibility of the members. Nevertheless, there are some key points to be taken from the role of the management.
Presence detection
Even video solutions do not fully capture all the human interactions of offline encounters, you can't listen to everyone at once, or they don't pay attention to each other, and the cultural environment is mixed, and different hand and head movements mean a lot different in different parts of the world. In physical meetings, there is always someone who does not listen, multitasking during a meeting, a problem with the view of the webcam or with the presence of voice only. The leader has to overcome this, keeping attention is a big challenge.
References
Chen, L. (2017). Intercultural Communication. Boston: De Gruyter Mouton. Retrieved from
https://search-ebscohos com.southuniversity.libproxy.edmc.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1504955&site=eds-live
Meredith, J. R. and Mantel, S. J. (2014). Project Management: A Managerial Approach (9th ed.),
Wiley, ISBN-13: 9781118947029. Retrieve from
https://digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu/#/books/9781119128380/cfi/6/18!/4/2/14/20/6/2@0:0
A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (2013) (5th ed.) Project Management
Institute, retrieve from
https://digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu/#/books/9781935589815?context_token=151d7140-98a3-0137-de54-7a724bb49bb4
Rad, P. F., & Levin, G. (2013). Achieving Project Management Success Using Virtual Teams.
Boca Raton, Fla: J. Ross Publishing. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.southuniversity.libproxy.edmc.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=158342&site=eds-live
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