1.1 Prelude

Working in teams has become commonplace in both academic as well as in business contexts. With advancements in information and communication technologies as well as the increasing affordability of technological innovations, more and more of these teams now work in a virtual environment. This 'virtual' environment ranges from the simple use of electronic mail systems or instant messaging to working from home and meeting colleagues through web conferences, and linking up with team members in different locations around the world.

This is an introductory session in which we will discuss the relevance of virtual teams and examine the factors that actually make a team virtual. Since we can all improve our skills in this area, we will be discussing the basic skills and competences needed when working in a virtual environment.

Download: Learning journal for session 1