Virtual working groups have many names and definitions. Surprisingly, there is no one common term or definition for a virtual working group. Although I interviewed over 150 virtual managers and members in preparation for this book, no two interviewees defined virtual teams the same way. Here are a few examples of how virtual teams are referred to: geographically dispersed teams, global teams, internationally distributed teams, temporary cross functional teams, dispersed project teams, knowledge worker teams, communication technology teams, technology-mediated teams, computer supported or computer mediated teams, offshore teams, interdependent groups across time and space, cyber network teams, and the list goes on… Some refer to virtual teams as temporary and multiple project teams while others consider their organizational, geographic and time boundaries.
Hand in hand with the concept of virtual team is its enabler – Technology. Technology allows the collaborative tools that most individuals refer to when describing their virtual teams. Without these communication tools (email, instant messaging, teleconference bridges, message boards, web conferencing, web cam, to name the most popular) virtual teams would remain a novelty in the world of work. Yet, make no mistake. Despite the fact that technology is the lifeline of the virtual team, the essence of its definition still focuses on people and places.
Yael’s Practical Definition of A Virtual Working Group
As you can see from these sample definitions, there are key differences in perception around the very core of what we mean by the term virtual team. Some individuals focus on the VIRTUAL elements (physical locations, time zones, boundaries) while others focus on TEAM functions (number of people, how they operate – temporary projects or ongoing and intact). The difficulty is coming up with a consistent definition that captures it all!
I have always opted for a simple definition of the term virtual team, as follows: a virtual team – whether across the street or across the world – is a team whose members simultaneously work together to a common purpose, while physically apart.
The traditional definition of teams applies here: common goal or purpose, complementary skills and sharing interdependent performance goals for which they hold themselves mutually accountable. The difference is virtual: simultaneously working together, while physically apart.
A virtual team does not always mean that individuals work from home. Many virtual teams consist of employees who work both at home and in small groups at the office, but in different geographic locations and organizational boundaries. Even locally, many people refer to virtual teams as having the ’50 Foot Rule’, the probability of communication between co-workers drops with the distance between them. After about 50 Feet (15 Meters) it doesn’t matter whether the team members are on different floors of the same building or different states – your teammate in the office across the street may be just as virtual as the coworker in India.
