welcome to TEAMVIRTUAL

• Are you looking to set-up a virtual team?
• Are you already running a virtual team?
• Are you part of an existing virtual team?

This site is packed with tips, based on real experiences, that will help with the processes and tools required to successfully run a virtual team.

What do we mean by a virtual team? For the purposes of this site, we are talking about teams where the members are distributed across different geographical locations.

It's a common perception that the wider a team is distributed the less effective communications within the team become. So if this is true, why would you want to set-up a virtual team?

There are many reasons depending on the industry you are in. Here are some examples:

offshoring

increasingly, and especially in the IT industry, teams contain an offshore element. Good virtual team management practices will improve the effectiveness of offshoring.

congestion

congestion is an increasing problem in many countries. The use of the technology that supports virtual teams can reduce the need to travel on a daily basis.

fuel costs

there's probably far worse to come, but the cost of travel is increasing as the demand for fuel rises against the likely reduction in supply. Virtual team techniques can protect against this inevitable cost.

global warming

many countries have yet to recognise it, but our insatiable appetite for burning fossil fuels must be quelled. Virtual team techniques can play an important part by reducing the need to travel and therefore reducing the consumption of fuel.

house prices

in major conurbations, where many businesses are located, the cost of housing is pushing staff pay up. By the use of virtual teams it makes it possible for staff to live and work in rural locations where costs are lower.

productivity

staff working at home in a flexible working environment have been shown to be more productive than their office located coworkers.

office space

less, expensive city based office space required.

happy workforce

allowing staff to work from home can reduce stress levels, allow other responsibilities and actiivities to be fitted in around work and lead to staff living a more balanced life.

24x7 cover

In environments requiring 24x7 cover, a virtual team can make this easier and less disruptive to employess lives.

larger employee pool

a larger pool of employee applicants because location isn't as important

client locality

possibility to locate staff near to clients rather than being based in a central office.

Fortunately developments in technology are now making it practical to form virtual teams spread across wide geographical areas and even across time zones. This site is a guide to the processes, technologies and infrastructure that make virtual team working both practical and beneficial.