Week 7: Virtual teams
Introduction
To begin this penultimate week of the course, watch the following video in which Lynne Johnson introduces the week.
Download this video clip.Video player: wdt_1_week_7_lynne.mp4
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Transcript
LYNNE:
In the last two weeks, you've considered have the workplace of today has changed dramatically from that of even 20 years ago, especially with regard to the global nature of business, the distance people today travel to work, and the use of technology in the workplace. This week, you're going to be exploring one of the key changes in many workplaces today-- the rise in the number of virtual teams.
What kind of challenges could you encounter working as part of a virtual team? What skills would you need to demonstrate to an employer for them to be confident that you're the right kind of person for this remote style of working? And how can you assess whether you're the kind of person who would thrive in a virtual team? You'll also explore the kind of skills you'd need to develop to be confident of operating in this virtual environment.
NARRATOR:
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By the end of this week, you will be able to:
- describe the key common features in a virtual team
- understand some of the key advantages of virtual team-working for employers and employees
- explain some of the challenges that this way of working raises including building trust, dealing with isolation and appropriate use of technology
- assess whether you are the kind of person who would thrive in a virtual team and the kind of skills you would need to develop to be confident of operating in this virtual environment.