MNG81001 Management Communication: Analyzing Virtual Team Dynamics

This essay examines the advantages and disadvantages of virtual teams, defining them as groups working towards a common goal from different geographical locations while connected through technology. It highlights the benefits for companies, including easier employee retention, global talent recruitment, reduced office costs, and increased productivity. The essay also addresses challenges such as technological issues, communication gaps, uneven knowledge distribution, cultural diversity leading to miscommunication, and lack of team bonding. The conclusion suggests strategies to mitigate these challenges, such as conducting physical meetings, clarifying tasks and roles, implementing disciplinary measures, ensuring similar technological measures, and distributing leadership equally. References to academic research support the analysis throughout the essay. Desklib provides a platform for students to access this and other solved assignments.

Benefits and
Challenges of Virtual
Team

Definition
 A group of people working
together with a common
purpose but from different
geographical locations.
 A team of employees
operating from different
offices.
 People working from their
home.
 They stay connected
through technology.

Benefits to company
 Retention of employees
become easier.
 Global recruitment of talent
is possible.
 The cost of office is lowered
(Erez et al. 2013).
 Wastage of time can be
avoided.
 The rate of attrition is
lowered.

More benefits to the company
 The productivity of the
company is increased.
 The cost of travelling is
reduced.
 24 hour work schedule can
be followed.
 A lot of resources are saved
(Krumm et al. 2016).
 It helps in reducing carbon
footprint.

The challenges
 Technological issues can
create serious problems.
 Lack of communication
creates serious problems
(Lilian 2014).
 The distribution of
knowledge is uneven.
 Diversity of culture can
create miscommunication.
 Lack of team bonding is
existent.

Conclusion
 Conducting a physical meeting
before commencement of
operation.
 Tasks and roles should be
clarified.
 Measures of discipline should be
implemented.
 Similar technological measures
among team is recommended.
 The leadership should be
equally distributed (Barnwell et
al. 2014).

References
 Erez, M., Lisak, A., Harush, R., Glikson, E., Nouri, R. and Shokef,
E., 2013. Going global: Developing management students'
cultural intelligence and global identity in culturally diverse
virtual teams. Academy of Management Learning &
Education, 12(3), pp.330-355.
 Barnwell, D., Nedrick, S., Rudolph, E., Sesay, M. and Wellen,
W., 2014. Leadership of international and virtual project
teams. International Journal of Global Business, 7(2).
 Krumm, S., Kanthak, J., Hartmann, K. and Hertel, G., 2016.
What does it take to be a virtual team player? The knowledge,
skills, abilities, and other characteristics required in virtual
teams. Human Performance, 29(2), pp.123-142.
 Lilian, S.C., 2014. Virtual teams: Opportunities and challenges
for e-leaders. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 110,
pp.1251-1261.

Thank You