Cooperative Collaboration: The Virtual Team Approach

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Cooperative Collaboration The Virtual Team
Approach

• ConversationAwarenessCoordinationA Shared
  Commitment

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Teams of Few

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Teams of Many!!!

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Overcoming Major Disconnects
• Even when co-workers are in the next cubicle,
  taking care of business can be challenging
  enough. Now, add the variable for when your
  co-workers are in the building next door or
  across the street. Finding things becoming just a
  bit harder to keep within reach? Well, how about
  if co-workers are located in another city,
  another state, another country, or, as it may
  seem when things become really disconnected, on
  another planet?

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Overcoming Major Disconnects (cont.)
• Although our working relationships may not seem
  like virtual ones, they very well could be. But
  what if they werent meant to be? Then, there are
  those situations where working relationships are
  meant to be geographically dispersed, where its
  all about working together apart. Youll need a
  strong, well-thought-out foundation to make it
  successful.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Blue Print for Building a Virtual Team
• What IS a Virtual Team what is its PURPOSE?
• Are YOU Virtual Team material the self
  assessment.
• The framework for the alliance establishing a
  Teams identity or defining the Teams mission
  statement or vision.
• Determine, understand, and practice best
  practices.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Blue Print for Building a Virtual Team (cont.)
• Best Practices will provide guidance to achieve
  one voice for many voices.
• Based on trust and commitment.
• Agreement on the need for a common purpose.
• Team member skills inventorystrengths,
  contributions members feel they can make to the
  team, identifying areas for improvement.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Blue Print for Building a Virtual Team (cont.)
• Address conflict managementwhat potential
  conflicts might arise and how do team members
  plan to resolve these conflicts.
• Determine who is to be the lead member.
• Obtaining team members' contact information.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Blue Print for Building a Virtual Team (cont.)
• Handling team meetings and conference sessions.
• How to exchange information (text files,
  graphics, etc.).
• Maintaining productivity to achieve results.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Blue Print for Building a Virtual Team (cont.)
• Tools methods to avoid communication
  breakdown.
• Basecamp, SharePoint, GoToMeeting, Skype,
  WebEx.
• Learn properly then properly utilize.
• Used in corporate environment/individual use.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Blue Print for Building a Virtual Team (cont.)
• BaseCamp focus on communication collaboration
  to assign tasks, share files, show activity,
  track time to meet deadlines cost - Max Plan
  (149/month, top-of-the-line, unlimited projects
  , 50 GB storage, unlimited users, time tracking,
  enhanced security) Plus Plan (most popular,
  49.00/month, 35 projects, 10 GB storage,
  unlimited users, time tracking, enhanced
  security).

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Blue Print for Building a Virtual Team (cont.)
• SharePoint widely used for collaboration and
  social computing connects people with
  line-of-business data, other experts, and
  business processes across the organization
  listed in numerous job requisitions (on DICE)
  cost Server 4,424,00 Client access license
  94.00.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Blue Print for Building a Virtual Team (cont.)
• GoToMeeting - demonstrate, present, collaborate
  from your PC or Mac.
• Free VoIP and integrated phone conferencing.
• Hold as many meetings as you want for as long
  as you want for one low rate.
• The easiest and most affordable
  Web-conferencing solution available.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Blue Print for Building a Virtual Team (cont.)
• Skype main features
• Free Skype-to-Skype calls (unlimited world
  use 12.95/mo.).
• Call phones and mobiles, send short message
  service (SMS), forward calls to a phone when
  you're offline.
• Free instant messaging voicemail.
• Free video call.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Blue Print for Building a Virtual Team (cont.)
• WebEx
• Communicate as if you are "face-to-face" with
  people anywhere.
• Share documents, make presentations,
  demonstrate products and services, collaborate,
  start a secure web meeting from the comfort of
  your desktop instantly.
• No software to install and no hardware to
  purchase.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Blue Print for Building a Virtual Team (cont.)
• OTSP establishes a Virtual Team of Cal Poly
  students for marketing collateral projects.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• The Ultimate Virtual Team Environment

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• A Frustrating Experience!!!

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Acquiring Projects
• These apply more to those who work independently,
  perhaps having ones own business. However, if
  you find yourself heading in more of an
  independent direction, you might want to keep
  them in mind.
• Determining prospective clients.
• How to approach prospective clients.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Acquiring Projects (cont.)
• Focus on the 'right types' of projects and
  achieve agreement.
• Creating a formal letter of engagement or
  contract (also, what 'boilerplate' provisions a
  contract should contain).
• Promoting one's service through a Web site,
  resume, networking, various marketing approaches,
  and so forth.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Acquiring Projects (cont.)
• W-2 or 1099 (if W-2, chances are you will be
  working through a recruiter or type of job shop
  if 1099, ensuring the budget is there and getting
  a purchase order).
• Bid types (fixed vs. hourly).
• Billing for services (possibly securing a
  retainer, invoicing, net terms, etc.).

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Fulfilling the Obligations (to each other and, if
  working independently, to a client)
• You want to show responsibility, maintain
  accountability, and exhibit due diligence.
• Whos in charge (perhaps the client, and if so,
  how much control will there be?).
• Common agreement on responsibilities, tasks,
  activities, and so forth.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Fulfilling the Obligations (cont.)
• Work closely with the Virtual Team to develop a
  tailored, not a boiler plate, approach.
• Preliminary project planas a minimum, identify
  the tasks involved, responsibility for each task,
  completion date for each task, defining
  responsibilities to achieve goals, identifying
  the client's key contact(s) responsibilities.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Fulfilling the Obligations (cont.)
• Communication Plan phone, E-mails, conference
  calls, exchanging information (text files,
  graphics, business correspondences, etc.).
• Provide timely status on a regular basis that
  includes objectives, accomplishments, and any
  issues to keep the project on track (this could
  include reporting time spent on particular
  activities) send to everyone.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Fulfilling the Obligations (cont.)
• Maintain continual and timely communication,
  feedback, Team support, and assistance,
  especially in situations where clarification is
  required.
• Determine methods for performing research and
  using the client's products to source the most
  adequate and accurate information for the
  specified audience(s).

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Fulfilling the Obligations (cont.)
• As required, schedule, and participate in,
  on-site meetings, design reviews, and training
  sessions (also, determine who will participate in
  these). This will depend upon the proximity of
  the client to where your Virtual Team members are
  located.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Fulfilling the Obligations (cont.)
• When conducting virtual meetings, make them
  effective - provide everyone a copy of the agenda
  and of any materials to be discussed ahead of
  time so Team members can prepare to participate
  in the conversation. If appropriate and/or
  necessary, at the end of each virtual meeting
  conduct a brief evaluation to find out how you
  can continuously improve the meeting process.

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• A Somewhat Humorous Experience

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Productivity and Results
• Primary factors for making the Virtual Team
  approach successful.
• Successful when participants contribute creative
  techniques to develop relationships and build
  trust through a geographically dispersed team.
• Measuring the results

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Productivity and Results (cont).
• Measuring the results
• You know youre successful when the Virtual
  Team wants to work with you again!
• You know youre successful when youre
  selected (by colleagues, peers, and associates)
  to lead the next Virtual Team!

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Productivity and Results (cont).
• You know youre successful when your client
  provides you with more work AND a purchase order
  number!
• You know youre successful when

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Co-op Collaboration Virtual Teams

• Everyone says, WAY TO GO!!