1. What were the most valuable higher-level points and key takeaways made in these readings from your perspective, and why (why does it matter?)?

From my perspective, the most valuable points made in the readings were communication among the team and team relationships/bonding. Team communication can be a challenge for a virtual team, especially in global organizations. A leader’s influence on the team may not be as impactful in a virtual team as opposed to an in-person team (The Four Keys To Success With Virtual Teams, 2010). The time zones of team members should be respected, this way all team members can be present for the meeting. The time zones of global team members can leave a small opportunity for hosting the meeting(s). The meetings must be timed precisely to avoid interrupting a team member’s morning or nightly drive home (Reiche, 2013). Communication, in virtual teams, can establish the team’s success or downfall. Without utilizing communication methods, project-related information may get lost or misinterpreted. By taking advantage of various communication channels (email, messaging, videoconferencing, etc.), team productivity can increase. 

3. If you have ever worked on a virtual team, what points presented in these articles resonated most strongly with you based on your own experience, and why?

I have worked on virtual teams, all relating to design projects. The points relating to communication resonated the strongest with my experiences. One of the virtual teams I had previously worked on had steady, consistent communication. All communication was done through videoconferencing, emails, and Basecamp. The project flowed seamlessly, and all work was completed ahead of schedule. Another virtual team I worked on held the opposite. A three-person team quickly became a two-person team when the third member suddenly stopped all communication. The lack of trust in that person had put a short damper on the team (Bailey, 2013). The leader was made aware of the situation as well as the lack of that team member’s contributions to the project and assisted the team in creating a solution.

4. Whether or not you have ever worked on a virtual team, do you believe the authors omitted any important points or tips that would probably be valuable to someone who has never collaborated on a virtual team? What recommendations would you add to the information the authors provided in these articles? 

For someone who has never worked on a virtual team (not including myself), the articles serve as a starting point in describing the virtual team experience. The articles describe how to approach working on a virtual team, tips on how to manage the virtual team, and handle the risks/issues a virtual team may face (Savitz, 2012). For the articles, recommendations to add to the information include providing examples of a virtual team experience and ways to adjust from the sudden switch (going from in-person to virtual). Someone who has not worked on a virtual team may be able to benefit from real-world examples, as it can give them insight into what a virtual team may be like.

References:

Bailey, S. (2013, March 5). How To Beat The Five Killers Of Virtual Working. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/sebastianbailey/2013/03/05/how-to-overcome-the-five-major-disadvantages-of-virtual-working/?sh=68d8817a2734

Reiche, S. (2013, June 20). Managing Virtual Teams: Ten Tips. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/iese/2013/06/20/managing-virtual-teams-ten-tips/?sh=29887cb0198b

Savitz, E. (2012, March 30). Building Virtual Teams: Strategies For High Performance. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2012/03/30/building-virtual-teams-strategies-for-high-performance/?sh=45187be26b66

The Four Keys To Success With Virtual Teams. (2010, August 19). Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/2010/08/19/virtual-teams-meetings-leadership-managing-cooperation.html?sh=5168785130cc