Kursthemen
-
Welcome ...
... to our online self-learning course version 1.0. It is a self-learning course which will continue to grow, develop and change. We may, for example, include other case studies and material. This is why we understand our work as a 'work in progress'.
For those, who want to use the material or part of it in their teaching and training sessions and are looking for didactical information and additional tasks and case studies, we have developed a Trainer Manual which can be accessed here. (https://glocal-campus.org/course/view.php?id=25)
Enjoy!
Course content and guidance through the course "Virtual intercultural teams" (VITeams)
Topics
- How to navigate through this course
- How to use this course
- Copyrights
- Download: Learning journals
- About us
The ability to work effectively in intercultural teams has been a key competence for a considerable time. Now, the increasing necessity (and opportunity) to work in these teams in a virtual environment has made these competences even more crucial. Expanding your experience and enhancing your expertise in virtual intercultural teams (VITeams) has therefore become indispensable in diverse professional, social and work contexts. Additionally, competence in VITeams will assist you in both in your search for and subsequently development of a satisfying career.
With this in mind, we would like to welcome you to our online course ‘Virtual intercultural teams’. This course will help you identify and analyse key challenges of working in VITeams and develop professional as well as social competencies to support and enable a high level of performance and work satisfaction. In a nutshell, the objective of this course aims is to enhance your virtual and intercultural competencies so that you can work successfully in diverse virtual team settings.
The following video will highlight the key elements of the course:
Video introduction: virtual intercultural teams
During the course you will have the option of either working through all the sessions consecutively, or selecting particular sessions that you would like to focus on from the table of contents. Ideally, participants will work through each module, which consists of ten sessions with around three hours of self-study per session. There are also alternative ways to use the course and these are explained in the section 'How to use the course'.
Please click here for a brief introduction on how to navigate through this course
- How to navigate through this course
-
Topics
- Prelude
- Virtual teamwork, an introduction
► Task: Changes in work environments
► Task: Virtuality – what are we talking about? - Characteristics of virtual teamwork, a critical perspective
- Different types of virtual teams
► Task: Teams and their level of virtuality - Virtual team competencies, a general introduction
► Task: Competencies and virtual teams - Summary
- Learning review
► Task: Case "IT problems"
► Task: Case "Designing a new office chair" - Sources, further reading and web links
Learning outcome
In this session you will reflect on the relevance of virtual teams in the context of a changing work environment and identify typical characteristics of virtual teams as well as basic skills and competencies needed when working in a virtual environment
Objectives
At the end of the session, you will be able to
- explain the meaning of virtuality
- discuss the relevance of virtual teamwork in the context of a changing work environment
- distinguish different types of virtual teamwork
- identify and name required competencies in virtual work places
-
Topics
- Prelude
- Introduction
► Task: Culture and virtual teams - A narrow and an expanded concept of culture
- An open versus closed concept of culture
► Task: Switzerland from a closed culture perspective
► Task: Case "Beibei from East Frisia"
► Task: Find your own example
► Task: 'Zooming' – a new perspective on culture - Interculturality
- Common cultural misconceptions and the potential of zooming for developing a collaborative team culture (an interview with Prof. Jürgen Bolten, Jena)
► Task: Interview with Prof. Jürgen Bolten – questions for reflection - Summary
- Learning review
► Task: Apply what you have learned - Sources, further reading and web links
Learning outcome
Applying a dynamic understanding of culture and interculturality, you will recognise cultural features of virtual teams and realise the key aspects of interculturality and its influence on effective teamwork.
* The text of this session was written by Peter Witchalls and is based on texts by Jürgen Bolten, University of Jena (Germany)
-
Topics
- Prelude
- Introduction
► Task: Differences between a group and a team - The life cycle of virtual teams
► Task: Developing into a team
► Task: Central characteristics of team development stages - Features of team development
► Task: A framework for supporting team development - Summary
- Learning review
► Task: Case "Development of a project team" - Sources, further reading and web links
Learning outcome
You will create a framework for analysing how a loosely assembled group of individuals can develop into a virtual team utilising Tuckman’s team development phases and considering such factors as trust and relationship building, goal setting and the communication process.
Objectives
At the end of the session, you will be able to
- describe the phases of the team development process based on Tuckman’s model
- identify factors that influence the team development process
- review the possible impact of these factors on the team’s life cycle
- outline a framework which can be utilised when viewing a group's development from a loosely related gathering of individuals into a fully-functioning team
-
Topics
- Introduction
► Task: Diversity factors - Introducing roles as a factor for diversity
► Task: A variety of roles - The function of team roles in work teams
► Task: Team diversity – a risk or an asset?
► Task: Team roles test - Understanding team roles
► Task: Three areas of team roles
► Task: Case "Creative ideas – not appreciated" - Applying the team roles for our self-awareness
► Task: Strengths and allowable weaknesses in your team roles
► Task: Your own experiences with strengths and weaknesses in team work - Applying team roles in work teams
► Task: Essential team roles
► Task: Case "Two job advertisements" - Summary
- Learning review
► Task: Case "A team assignment" - Sources, further reading and web links
Objectives
At the end of the session, you will
- have familiarised yourself with the key functional roles in virtual intercultural teams as well as the expectations linked to these roles
- be able to explain the competencies required to fulfil these roles
- Introduction
-
Topics
- Prelude
► Task: Which teams perform best? - Introduction
- The MBI approach in a virtual environment
► Task: My diversity wheel
► Task: Hierarchical versus status orientation
► Task: Opening hours
► Task: Getting to know myself and my cultural orientation
► Task: De-centering
► Task: The meaning of 'team meeting' - Creating mutuality and negotiating culture in a virtual team
- Using cultural profiles as a basis for mapping and negotiating culture
► Task: My cultural profile
► Task: Commonalities and differences among team members
► Task: Reconciling differences - Summary
- Learning review
► Task: Learnings from this session - Sources, further reading and web links
Learning outcome
By creating identity profiles according to the principles of the MBI model (mapping, bridging and integrating), you will understand how mutuality and commonality in an intercultural and interdisciplinary virtual team can be created.
Objectives
At the end of the session, you will
- explain and apply the MBI approach
- explain and develop an identity profile
- identify commonalities and differences that influence teamwork
- explain how mutuality can be created
- apply activities that further mutuality
- develop criteria to enable the negotiation of a productive and synergetic culture
- Prelude
-
Topics
- Prelude
- Introduction
- Team performance and team satisfaction
- Key challenges of virtual intercultural teams
► Task: Identifying challenges
► Task: What makes me trust my team?
► Task: Drafting an email
► Task: Changing perspective
► Task: A team identity
► Task: A liberated work place - Summary
- Learning review
► Task: Case "Designing a new office chair" (Reprise)
► Task: Case "The relocation" - Sources, further reading and web links
Learning outcome
You will analyse the key challenges that need to be addressed by virtual intercultural teams if they are to achieve a high level of team performance and satisfaction.
Objectives
At the end of the session, you will be able to
- explain the link between team performance and satisfaction
- analyse key challenges in virtual intercultural teams
-
Topics
- Prelude
- Introduction
► Task: Benefits of virtual teamwork - Culture, interculturality and negotiating culture, a quick review
- Cultural leverage in VITeams or negotiating a VITeam culture
- Developing an e-culture
- Identifying best practices
► Task: My dune model - Summary
- Learning review
► Task: Case "An Austrian US-American teamwork", part 1
► Task: Case "An Austrian US-American teamwork", part 2 - Sources, further reading and web links
Learning outcome
You will recall the basics of negotiating an effective e-culture and apply selected approaches in order to identify best practices for your virtual team
Objectives
At the end of the session, you will be able to
- explain the processes and possible outcomes of negotiating an e-culture
- identify and evaluate best practices
- apply approaches in order to select best practices for your team
-
Topics
- Prelude
- Introduction
- Developing competences for working in VITeams
- Key areas of virtual intercultural competence and my personal achievements
► Activity: Changing your work routines
► Activity: Joining a team (1)
► Activity: Dealing with irritating behaviour
► Activity: Joining a team (2)
► Activity: Dealing with a touchy topic
► Activity: The interaction between the team lead and the employees
► Activity: Contextual issues
► Activity: Privileges
► Activity: Reflecting on positive and negative experiences
► Activity: Developing the communication flow within the team
► Activity: Synergies through differences - ...and the journey continues ► Activity: Benefits of virtual teamwork
- Sources, further reading and web links
Learning outcome
You critically assess your competences for working in a VITeam
Objectives
At the end of the session, you will be able to
- identify and explain central skills and competences relevant for working in a VITeam
- critically assess the competences you gained for working in VITeams