IntroductionOrganizations are often searching for ways to have a competitive advantage over their competition. In a global environment this is illustrated by, "continually reshaping the organization to maximize strengths, address threats, and increase speed" (Duarte & Snyder, 1999, p.3). Recently this advantage has made inroads into the strategic operations process through the use of virtual teams.
The rapid growth of knowledge, time-based competition, technology, and globalization has caused the business environment to no longer operate within the same parameters as it did in the past. Firms across the globe are constantly changing shape and structure to facilitate flexible working environments. They are also searching for the most efficient methods of operation. The use of the virtual teams is a relatively new tactic businesses are using to solve business related problems, and to perform organizational tasks.
Definition of Virtual TeamConventional teams and teamwork have been used in business for years, but the virtual team adds a whole new dimension to meeting the challenges of the modern workplace.
Diagram of US Federal Government and American Unio...
English: Diagram of the focus of virtual team rese...
English: The logo of (RST VA) Russian Sky Team Vir...Conventional teams can roughly be defined as people located in the same geographical region working together through direct interaction. However, the virtual team can be defined as "groups of workers with unique skills, who often reside in different geographical places, and have to use for co-operation means of information and communication technology in order to span the boundaries of time and space" (Kirkman & Mathiew, 2004, p.). All teams are slightly different due to many factors therefore the virtual team can take on many definitions, roles, and forms. Another researcher defines virtual teams as a "group of geographically and/or organizationally dispersed coworkers that are assembled using a combination of telecommunications and informal technologies to accomplish an organizational task" (Townsend, 1998, p.). In short, basic characteristics of a virtual team are distance between members...