Virtual Teams: Key Success Factors – Part 1

The business justification for virtual teams is strong. They increase speed and agility and leverage expertise and vertical integration between organizations to make resources readily available. Virtual teams also lessen the disruption of people’s lives because the people do not have to travel to meet. And in today’s business world that’s big.  That’s green.  Team members can also broaden their careers and perspectives by working across organizations and cultures and on a variety of projects and tasks.

Although the effective use of electronic communication and collaboration technologies is fundamental to the success of a virtual team, virtual teams entail much more than technology and computers. When virtual teams and their leaders are asked about successes and failures, they rarely mention technology as a primary reason for either.  While it’s important that software packages such as Seavus’ Project Planner or Project Viewer are used to keep virtual teams informed and in sync, it’s not all about technology.

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The PMI Founders

If you were at PMI’s Global Congress North America in the autumn you would have had the chance to meet the PMI Founders in person at a breakfast meeting one day during the conference.  They were very interesting people, and it’s amazing that something that started off so randomly – with little investment or appreciation of what it would become – has grown into the organisation we have now, 40 years on.  If you weren’t able to get to the Congress, you can hear what the Founders have to say about setting up PMI on this video.

Ten Characteristics of Successful Project Teams – Part 6

In Part 5 of this series we examined item eight of ten characteristics of successful project teams: a positive atmosphere.  Here is the full list of the ten main characteristics of successful project teams that we will be examining in this series:

• Clearly defined goals
• Clearly defined roles
• Open and clear communication
• Effective decision making
• Balanced participation
• Valued diversity
• Managed conflict
• Positive atmosphere
• Cooperative relationships
• Participative leadership

For the finale – Part 6 of this series – we will examine items nine and ten in more detail: cooperative relationships and participative leadership.

Cooperative relationships

Directly related to having a positive atmosphere are cooperative relation- ships. Team members know that they need one another’s skills, knowledge, and expertise to produce something together that they could not do as well alone. There is a sense of belonging and a willingness to make things work for the good of the whole team. The atmosphere is informal, comfortable, and relaxed. Team members are allowed to be themselves. They are involved and interested.

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Ten Characteristics of Successful Project Teams – Part 5

In Part 4 of this series we examined items six and seven of ten characteristics ofsuccessful project teams: valued diversity and managed conflict.  Here is the full list of the ten main characteristics of successful project teams that we will be examining in this series:

• Clearly defined goals
• Clearly defined roles
• Open and clear communication
• Effective decision making
• Balanced participation
• Valued diversity
• Managed conflict
• Positive atmosphere
• Cooperative relationships
• Participative leadership

For Part 5 of this series, we’ll examine item eight in more detail: a positive team atmosphere.

Positive team atmosphere

To be truly successful, a team must have a climate of trust and openness, that is, a positive atmosphere. A positive atmosphere indicates that members of the team are committed and involved. It means that people are comfortable enough with one another to be creative, take risks, and make mistakes. It also means that you may hear plenty of laughter, and research shows that people who are enjoying themselves are more productive than those who dislike what they are doing.

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Ten Characteristics of Successful Project Teams – Part 4

In Part 3 of this series we examined item five of ten characteristics of successful project teams: balanced participation.  Here is the full list of the ten main characteristics of successful project teams that we will be examining in this series:

• Clearly defined goals
• Clearly defined roles
• Open and clear communication
• Effective decision making
• Balanced participation
• Valued diversity
• Managed conflict
• Positive atmosphere
• Cooperative relationships
• Participative leadership

For Part 4 of this series, we’ll examine items six and seven above in more detail: valued diversity and managed conflict.

Valued diversity

Valued diversity is at the heart of building a team. Thus, the box is at the center of the model. It means, put simply, that team members are valued for the unique contributions that they bring to the team.

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