• Introduction to Virtual Teams & their Lifecycle Stages (audio-visual)
• Launching the Project (audio-visual)
• Establishing Norms (audio-visual)
• Process Optimization (audio-visual)
• Finishing & Adjourning (audio-visual)

Supporting Materials (including Quick Notes)

• Available here

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Process Optimization

The third stage of the virtual team process consists of the team focusing on getting the task accomplished. But rather than just being about performance, this stage is most crucially characterized by a constant assessment of the quality of performance. Because this is so important for team effectiveness, we call the stage “Process Optimization”. Usually this is the longest of the stages, since it comprises the majority of the team’s work, and the leader’s role shifts in this stage. The nature of virtual team projects is such that highly regarded workers are usually chosen to be in virtual teams. Although direct facilitation is crucial in the earlier stages of virtual teams, by this point, you should find your team members are able to produce with minimal direct intervention from you. However, while team members may not need your direct help most of the time, your vigilance over progress, communication, use of technology, and member interaction is still strongly advised. In this stage you will probably find you move into a more hands-off, but still vigilant, type of leadership. The issues that you are likely to face and action steps that you could take to address are given below.

Issue: It is crucial that team member effort translates into performance
Action step: Train all team members on technologies the team has decided to use

Issue: It is difficult for team members to maintain motivation and attention for the project
Action steps: Communicate frequently, summarize large amounts of information into useful and relevant synopses, provide feedback to team members for both successes and problems

Issue: Conflict can interfere with team performance
Action step: Monitor team interactions to prevent the damaging results of conflict

Issue: On a complex project, it is necessary to objectively assess progress
Action step: Conduct After Action Reviews regularly (Questions to cover during an After Action Review are available)

Issue: Virtual teams are not often visible to stakeholders
Action step: Periodically touch base with and report to stakeholders to keep the team visible

See an audio-visual presentation (17 minutes) that provides a detailed coverage of issues and action steps related to this stage.

Proceed to Finishing & Adjourning.

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