7.7 Summary

Developing an e-culture for is especially important for VITeams because many of the cues that members of in-person teams use to establish how 'things are done around here' are lacking. In particular, working together virtually calls for agreement on work routines, communication processes and a commitment to the development of a common spirit and virtual closeness. Teams that set aside time and resources to pro-actively establish and agree on an e-culture and thus a positive work climate are likely to avoid unnecessary problems and misunderstandings. Developing an e-culture therefore has the potential to bring out the best in teams and lays the groundwork for the emergence of synergies.

The Dune model and Bono's six thinking hats are two approaches that help to identify best practices for a team. Whereas the Dune model enables a team to establish basic parameters for their teamwork, Bono’s hats help us to identify best working routines for the team. By asking a variety of questions, Bono's hats encourage team members to consider different perspectives and thereby find the most suitable solution. In addition, both approaches have the advantage of being simple to implement.