Report on Virtual Collaboration: Barriers and Solutions

This report delves into the complexities of virtual collaboration, focusing on the challenges posed by communication barriers within diverse teams. It highlights the impact of language differences and cultural backgrounds, emphasizing the need for supportive and structured environments to facilitate understanding among non-native English speakers. The report outlines strategies for fostering effective communication in virtual teams, including promoting group interaction, providing explicit vocabulary instruction, and encouraging communication in multiple languages. It contrasts face-to-face and virtual team discussions, emphasizing the importance of technology, shared languages, and prior preparation for virtual settings. Furthermore, the report identifies five key barriers to communication: cultural and language differences, emotional states, work environments, individual attitudes, and disabilities. It underscores the role of leadership in mitigating these barriers by creating a less noisy environment, promoting equal attention to employees, and addressing the emotional and cultural nuances of team members. The report concludes with a comprehensive list of references.

Running head: VIRTUAL COLLABORATION
VIRTUAL COLLABORATION
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Problem with the English Language
In virtual collaboration, there are people from different background and native
language that can lead to conflict within the team. Following steps should be taken while
dealing with the problem of the English language. There should be a supportive and
organised environment. Structuring the environment as well as the routines will help the non-
English speakers to understand how tasks will proceed. There should be an increased
opportunity for group interaction that can be productive (Chan, 2017). Programs of high
quality boost the confidence of the learners. Explicit vocabulary instruction should be given
to the team members. Communication in other languages should also be done so that non-
English members do not feel left out. One on one discussion should also be promoted.
Group discussion for Virtual team
Face to face discussion is smooth as a committee can be formed quickly, and people
can converse easily. A round table or panel discussion can be held where each is given a
chance to speak and there can be a debate on the topic. Forming, storming, norming and
performing are stages that can be established quickly in this discussion (Kerr, 2017). The first
step for discussion in a virtual team is to employ the best communication technology. It is
essential to agree on a shared language that can be understood by all. Panel and round table
discussion are not possible here. Ensuring good network coverage is necessary (Curşeu,
Chappin & Jansen, 2018). Prior details about the discussion should be forwarded to all the
members in their native language to get a better understanding of the topic. Some stages that
can be applied to virtual team discussion is that the members can have a conference meeting
before the discussion and select the plan and motive for debate. This will help in building
harmony amongst themselves. Proper paperwork should be done so that everyone is prepared

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with their parts and the process can be smooth. A website should be made where each can
regularly put their views.
Five barriers to communication
There are five practical barriers to communication. They are- culture differences and
language, emotional state, work environment, people’s attitude and disability (Campbell,
2016). The leader of an organisation has to ensure that there is less noise to communicate
effectively. Equal attention should be given to employees so that they can communicate
effectively. The biased and noisy environment acts as a communication barrier. When people
are dealing with personal and professional problems, they might get distracted. The leader
needs to understand the emotional state of the person and overcome the communication
barrier. Different cultures act differently and have a different language to communicate.
Thus, the difference in culture and language in the workplace can prevent communication.
Some people are introverts and do not like to express. They want to be left alone and mind
their business; however, this is a massive barrier within a team as a team requires effective
communication. People with disability can go through communication problem. This is
known as a physiological barrier. To communicate with an egoistic person, one should speak
politely and make requests. It is essential to recognise their statement as reasonable. They
should not be forced to accept their misconduct. Facts and points should be presented instead
of arguing.

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References
Campbell, N. (2016). Ethnocentrism and intercultural willingness to communicate. Journal
of Intercultural Communication, 40(1), 1.
Chan, C. S. (2017). Investigating a research-informed teaching idea: The use of transcripts of
authentic workplace talk in the teaching of spoken business English. English for
Specific Purposes, 46, 72-89.
Curşeu, P. L., Chappin, M. M., & Jansen, R. J. (2018). Gender diversity and motivation in
collaborative learning groups: the mediating role of group discussion quality. Social
Psychology of Education, 21(2), 289-302.
Kerr, S. (2017). Forming, storming, norming, and performing (Doctoral dissertation,
ResearchSpace@ Auckland).