“The importance of the “human factor” for virtual teams
By Jack Keogh, Managing Director, Keogh & Associates Consulting, LLC
Virtual Teams – what, exactly, is a “virtual team”?
Virtual teams, or, as they are sometimes called, “geographically dispersed teams” (GDT), are rapidly becoming the way the world does business. They consist of a group of individuals who are able to work together across time, space, and organizational boundaries with links strengthened by webs of communication technology. Companies are now able to hire the best of the best, regardless of location. In theory, the members of these teams compliment each other and share common goals as do most any other type of team that you may think of. They are each committed to a common purpose and while working together, hold each member as well as themselves accountable for getting the job done. Virtual teams do not simply consist of individuals working from their homes (“teleworkers”), but rather they are comprised of employees working at home or in small groups in offices all over the world. With advancements in technology and the constant outsourcing that companies all over the world are implementing, virtual teams may eventually be the “norm” in the way to do business…
