Review of Virtual Project Teams

REVIEW OF
“VIRTUAL PROJECT TEAMS”
YOUR NAME
Griffith School of Engineering, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD4222, Australia
The purpose of this paper is to present a review on virtual project teams. In the literature review, characteristics of Virtual
Team, Technology in virtual teams and issues with virtual project teams is discussed. The opportunities, benefits and
opportunities are presented. The avenues for future research are also stated. The conclusion and recommendations are
also presented.
Keywords: virtual project teams, project managers,
technology and characteristics of virtual teams
1. Introduction
1.1. Overview
Virtual teams are developed by the organizations
with the help of the information technology, reliable and
faster communication networks for a project. The
organizations can hire the talented and potential
candidate staying in different country by
communicating and interacting with them through
information technology. The team members can connect
with the organization and can work for the organization
and contribute in completing the project in an easier
manner with the help of the technology (Iulia &
Dumitru, 2016).
1.2. Context
The idea of virtual teams is implemented by the
many of the organizations belonging to different sectors
that include IT, construction, medical and such others.
2. The Literature Review
2.1. Characteristics of virtual team
A good virtual project team includes the team
members who are self-discipline, have team
participation skills, accountability, confidence, ability to
use technology in an efficient manner, patience,
flexibility, perseverance, understanding and persistence.
All these characteristics are helpful in developing a
successful virtual project teams. It is easier for a project
manager to manage the team by using the effective
practices of managing virtual project teams (Morley,
Cormican, & Folan, 2015).
2.2. Technology in virtual teams
Technology is main element due to which, it is
possible to develop virtual project team and connect
with them. The virtual teams are dispersed in the
different geographic regions. The technological
advancement helped in providing with the ability to
communicate, access to large pool of skills employees,
and ability to share the information in an easier manner.
The technology has helped in overcoming the
differences related to time zone and geographical region
for the purpose to provide the support to develop and
maintain the identity of team (Kimble, 2011).
2.3. Issues with virtual project teams
The virtual project team can help in contributing in
accomplishing the project in an efficient manner but
sometime, the issues are faced by project manager in
managing the project teams. There is a lack of the
physical interaction with the team members when the
virtual teams are formed. It is highly important for the
project manager to follow the formal process in an
effective manner which is quite difficult. The difficulty
is also faced by the mangers to make the team member
understand due to the cultural and language differences.
One of the issues that are faced by project managers to
manage the virtual project team is that it is difficult to
provide proper guidance and the training to the virtual
team members. It is difficult to encourage or motivate
1