A virtual team is a group of employees located far from each other but working on the same project. Information systems for business help organize the coordinated work and set clear goals (Stair, 2020). Virtual teams have several undeniable advantages: savings on equipment and office maintenance and a wider choice of potential employees. Virtual teams require appropriate tools: online systems, file storage, and remote communication messengers. Despite the complexity of organizing well-coordinated work, information technologies for virtual teams can benefit organizations.
Virtual Teams in Organizations
First, to ensure practical collaborative work, communication tools are needed. Chat tools like Skype allow the organization to get quick and short answers. For permanent virtual teams, it is necessary to use instant messengers, where communication via audio and video is possible. Zoom and Microsoft Teams are suitable for meetings where the company needs to see the emotional response of employees. The traditional element of communication may remain email, ideal for formal announcements. These means of communication will significantly facilitate the work, allowing the team to always be in touch. A remote team and employees in a traditional office can use the advantage of instant messengers.
Planning and project management for a remote team requires special software. The most famous and straightforward tool for organizing information is Excel. A pivot table can serve as both a planning tool and a way to show project milestones, goals, and objectives. PPM software is often used to streamline project management by offering the big picture. The software used to organize a virtual team helps optimize work processes even within an office.
Finally, a virtual team needs a collaborative workspace to share ideas, goals and achievements. G Suite services and interactive whiteboards can enhance team spirit and share experiences among remote workers. These services can be integrated into office work, becoming one of the elements of team building. Most of the services for organizing collaborative workspaces have mobile applications, allowing employees to choose a convenient use format.
Conclusion
An organization may be hesitant to use remote teams due to high equipment costs and lack of team coherence. The information systems for virtual teams can reduce these adverse effects by exaggerating the positives of virtual teams. These information tools can improve the work of a traditional office. The adaptability, versatility, and innovativeness of technical means provide an unambiguous conclusion that organizations will benefit from their use.
Reference
Stair, R. M. (2020). Principles of Business Information Systems. 4th Edition. Cengage Learning EMEA.