MGT Case: Virtual Teams

Virtual Teams
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Technology has brought on board some of the most revolutionary changes and developments in communications. Businesses are the most affected by the changes, with massive benefits to be reaped from the developments. Teamwork initially involved the team members meeting and carrying their activities in the same venue (Sadri &Condia, 2012). However, this has since changed as technology now provides various platforms that team members can communicate through. As such virtual teams are quite common and team members can work without ever meeting physically. This has revolutionized teamwork from the traditional ways of operation.
In 1965 Bruce Tuckman a psychologist, wrote an article titled developmental sequence in small groups. In the article, Bruce explained the stages necessary to forming a group for optimal teamwork (Mindtools.com, 2014). Forming is the first stage of establishing a team. At this point most of the team members are not sure of their responsibilities and are anxious while other are excited. Traditionally the leaders would take on the role of guiding the teams on their roles and helping them fit in. with the virtual teams the members do not have a chance to meet and neither does the leader (Nair, 2010). As such, it is quite easy for the teams to lack comfort of familiarizing themselves to the team and the roles. Leaders and the team members have to put in more effort to make the arrangement work.
At the storming stage where traditionally, team members have a chance to challenge the boundaries set, it becomes even more crucial for the leaders of virtual teams to assert their roles. Different members will have different working styles, some of which may conflict with the rest of the team or just a few members. Traditionally, leaders have a much easier time managing these situations and restoring balance in the team (Rigby, 2013). Definition of the rules and the roles is now done virtually and leaders have to be extra careful to make sure the same take effect constantly. Additionally, team members may have to cope with more stress as they feel overwhelmed with work, but with very minimal support and relationships that are not strong enough.
At the norming stag, most team members understand fully their roles and the differences in their abilities and limitations including those of their team members. It is also at this stage that the team members show progress socially and professionally as they appre...