Logo

Navigation
  • Home
  • Services
    • ERP Solutions
    • Implementation Solutions
    • Support and Maintenance Solutions
    • Custom Solutions
    • Upgrade Solutions
    • Training and Mentoring
    • Web Solutions
    • Production Support
    • Architecture Designing
    • Independent Validation and Testing Services
    • Infrastructure Management
  • Expertise
    • Microsoft Development Expertise
    • Mobile Development
    • SQL Server Database and BI
    • SAP BI, SAP Hana, SAP BO
    • Oracle and BI
    • Oracle RAC
  • Technical Training
    • Learn Data Management
      • Business Intelligence
      • Data Mining
      • Data Modeling
      • Data Warehousing
      • Disaster Recovery
    • Learn Concepts
      • Application Development
      • Client Server
      • Cloud Computing Tutorials
      • Cluster Computing
      • CRM Tutorial
      • EDI Tutorials
      • ERP Tutorials
      • NLP
      • OOPS
      • Concepts
      • SOA Tutorial
      • Supply Chain
      • Technology Trends
      • UML
      • Virtualization
      • Web 2.0
    • Learn Java
      • JavaScript Tutorial
      • JSP Tutorials
      • J2EE
    • Learn Microsoft
      • MSAS
      • ASP.NET
      • ASP.NET 2.0
      • C Sharp
      • MS Project Training
      • Silverlight
      • SQL Server 2005
      • VB.NET 2005
    • Learn Networking
      • Networking
      • Wireless
    • Learn Oracle
      • Oracle 10g
      • PL/SQL
      • Oracle 11g Tutorials
      • Oracle 9i
      • Oracle Apps
    • Learn Programming
      • Ajax Tutorial
      • C Language
      • C++ Tutorials
      • CSS Tutorial
      • CSS3 Tutorial
      • JavaScript Tutorial
      • jQuery Tutorial
      • MainFrame
      • PHP Tutorial
      • VBScript Tutorial
      • XML Tutorial
    • Learn Software Testing
      • Software Testing Types
      • SQA
      • Testing
  • Career Training
    • Career Improvement
      • Career Articles
      • Certification Articles
      • Conflict Management
      • Core Skills
      • Decision Making
      • Entrepreneurship
      • Goal Setting
      • Life Skills
      • Performance Development
      • Personal Excellence
      • Personality Development
      • Problem Solving
      • Relationship Management
      • Self Confidence
      • Self Supervision
      • Social Networking
      • Strategic Planning
      • Time Management
    • Education Help
      • Career Tracks
      • Essay Writing
      • Internship Tips
      • Online Education
      • Scholarships
      • Student Loans
    • Managerial Skills
      • Business Communication
      • Business Networking
      • Facilitator Skills
      • Managing Change
      • Marketing Management
      • Meeting Management
      • Process Management
      • Project Management
      • Project Management Life Cycle
      • Project Management Process
      • Project Risk Management
      • Relationship Management
      • Task Management
      • Team Building
      • Virtual Team Management
    • Essential Life Skills
      • Anger Management
      • Anxiety Management
      • Attitude Development
      • Coaching and Mentoring
      • Emotional Intelligence
      • Stress Management
      • Positive Thinking
    • Communication Skills
      • Conversation Skills
      • Cross Culture Competence
      • English Vocabulary
      • Listening Skills
      • Public Speaking Skills
      • Questioning Skills
    • Soft Skills
      • Assertive Skills
      • Influence Skills
      • Leadership Skills
      • Memory Skills
      • People Skills
      • Presentation Skills
    • Finding a Job
      • Etiquette Tips
      • Group Discussions
      • HR Interviews
      • Interview Notes
      • Job Search Tips
      • Resume Tips
      • Sample Resumes
 

Virtual Team Definition and Concept

By Exforsys | on April 20, 2009 |
Virtual Team Management

What is a Virtual Team?

A virtual team, which may also be referred to as a team which is geographically isolated, is a collection of individuals who work together through the usage of communication technology. These people will typically have skills which complement each other, and these skills are geared towards the achievement of a specific goal.

The performance goals of this team will generally be interdependent, and each member of the team will hold themselves accountable when it comes to the completion of the shared objective.

The goal of the virtual team is to hire the most qualified people available, and the location of the individual is not important. While a virtual team will typically include people who work from home, this isn’t always the case.

Virtual team members work in offices as well as homes. There are a number of reasons why virtual teams are becoming so popular these days. The first of these is the fact that we live in the Information Age, as opposed to the Industrial Age. This means that information moves at the speed of light, and those who have access to the latest and fastest communication technologies are able to send data quickly.

The ability to send information at rapid speeds, combined with the power of the Internet, has given rise to the creation of "invisible corporations." However, the most powerful aspect of the virtual team is that it is is not restricted to their physical location.

In the past, international communication was very expensive. It could cost hundreds of dollars to speak to a person in a foreign country for just an hour, and computers were outside the price range of the poor.

With the rapidly declining cost of both computers and communication costs, more people are able to work together from different parts of the globe, and they are able to do so at the lowest price possible.

Because the cost of both computers and communications have fallen to a fraction of the levels that they were in the 1980s and the 1990s, this has allowed products and services to be produced at a lower price.

Virtual Teams: The Symbol of the Information Age

In the past, it was not feasible for a company based in any country to hire an employee from another country, unless this employee was so valuable that the expense of hiring them was worth it.

Make no mistake, brain drain has existed since the Industrial Age, but the difference between that age and the Information Age is that in this age, companies can hire the best and brightest from other countries without requiring them to relocate.

For example, today a world recognized software company based in the United States can hire high level programmers from India or China, and they can employ these individuals without requiring them to relocate.

In the past, it would have been necessary for these programmers to relocate to the United States, and employing them would have been very expensive. The advent of virtual teams has bypassed the challenges that traditional borders have typically created. Virtual teams have a level of flexibility which allows small companies to compete with a minimal amount of resources.

An organization which is flexible in its communication is much better able to adapt to the rapid changes which are being made in the global marketplace. Virtual teams are highly efficient because workers spend the majority of their time working as opposed to traveling, which means they save money.

Why Virtual Teams are Effective

Virtual teams are also highly effective because they don’t have any "off" hours. For example, with a traditional corporation, where all its employees are available in a single city, has an 8 hour work day.

In contrast, a virtual corporation which is comprised of employees that work internationally has a 24 hour work day. When the employees in one time zone are sleeping, the others are working. This means that in theory, the virtual team can get more done in a shorter period of time when compared to the traditional corporation.

« « The Concept of Virtual Manager
How to Build a Virtual Team » »

Author Description

Avatar

Editorial Team at Exforsys is a team of IT Consulting and Training team led by Chandra Vennapoosa.

Free Training

RSSSubscribe 401 Followers
  • Popular
  • Recent
  • The Concept of Virtual Manager

    April 19, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Team Benefits

    May 3, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Team Requirement

    April 27, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Team Disadvantages

    May 4, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • How to Build a Virtual Team

    April 21, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • How to Develop Virtual Team

    April 24, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Team Performance Variables

    April 26, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Team Communication

    April 30, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Team Success Factors

    April 28, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Maximizing Virtual Team Performance

    April 30, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Team Challenges

    May 5, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Team Disadvantages

    May 4, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Team Benefits

    May 3, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Team Members

    May 2, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Team Management

    May 1, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Team Communication

    April 30, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Maximizing Virtual Team Performance

    April 30, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Team Success Factors

    April 28, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Team Requirement

    April 27, 2009 - 0 Comment
  • Virtual Team Performance Variables

    April 26, 2009 - 0 Comment

Exforsys e-Newsletter

ebook
 

Related Articles

  • Virtual Team Challenges
  • Virtual Team Disadvantages
  • Virtual Team Benefits
  • Virtual Team Members
  • Virtual Team Management

Latest Articles

  • Project Management Techniques
  • Product Development Best Practices
  • Importance of Quality Data Management
  • How to Maximize Quality Assurance
  • Utilizing Effective Quality Assurance Strategies
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA
  • Trademark Information
  • Contact Us
© 2022. All Rights Reserved.IT Training and Consulting
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Necessary Always Enabled