Business Market, Essay Example

As the business market is moving towards a more global environment, where companies from all over the world are participating in the international markets. As the technology continues to increase, it has created several opportunities for companies to communicate and hire employees from all parts of the world. Collaborative software has enabled companies to make it faster, easier, and better for team members to communicate as if they are in front of each other.  Creating virtual teams have afforded companies the ability to create virtual structures that allow them to operate competitively, where globalization has been rapidly progressed by the information revolution. As the economy makes it difficult to have job security, the agility for companies to flexibly change their structure, and work environment in order to match the demands of the changing environment creates an opportunity for rapid growth. In projects, virtual teams are the building blocks within an organization, as they enable users to gather their collective skills, perspectives, and talents as a group to achieve the projects’ goals. There are many advantages to having a virtual team over a physical one, however there are many drawbacks that make it far from perfect. The opportunities for virtual teams in project management, has presented several benefits as well as problems in which the project manager must take control if they want the project to be completed on time. As Kenneth makes clear, within in any project environment, the best possible way to exert control relies on a stable environment, and noticing any advanced warnings of upcoming conflicts.

According to Wardell, while it is advantageous that companies have implemented a virtual team structure in place, there has to ways in which to manage the virtual teams in order to maximize the benefits in the organizations. Wardell introduces several key lessons that will help in mitigating virtual teams in the organizations that includes, learning how to manage a regular team before managing a virtual team. In any teams, managers must set out clear goals and deliverables at the start of the project with the input of each team member, while making the details of clear and understood. In virtual teams, it is important that communication is ever present including through all mediums such as instant messaging, emails, personal interaction if available, skyping, and voice conversations. What project managers can do to create a more enjoyable and engaging team is to provide incentives for team members that include, rewards and recognition that will serve as performance boosters that will positively impact the project. In ways to take control in virtual teams is to keep an eye out for conflicts, which will become hindrances to meeting deadlines, and will also be problematic for having unity in the team. In ways to mitigate these challenges, is to encourage communication from all parties, and to continue to give feedback to each member. The best way in exerting control is to provide a structure in each virtual team were tasks and responsibilities are delegated to each team member so that the project will be able meet deadlines, and also the tasks will be evenly divided.

Global teams are also formed much like virtual teams as they incorporate different team members from international backgrounds. In global teams, it is important that the project manager be aware of potential conflicts in the different culture and language issues. Each individuals will have a different way in thinking and reporting their work, and the manager must provide a cohesive way in which team members can openly share information, and collaborate in the project. In both global teams and virtual teams, members must be oriented in being able to work collaboratively on the software provided, the dimensions of the project should be made clear, and the team environment must remain welcoming to team input. Global teams are some of the most challenging team structures because of the high diversity in incorporating people that might speak a different language, and have difficulties in cultural and communication barriers. Where communication is the key, the leader should make information available so that each team member will be able to understand clearly and provide synergy to be an effective team. The leader will also create a team charter that will clearly explain the projects’ goals and objectives, as well as any potential problems that might arise, and possible solutions to further team synergy. In following these steps, it provides a more cohesive team, where members are able to successfully collaborate and finish the project on time.

Cross-functional teams are not like regular work teams in which people get together to work towards a common goal. Instead, cross-functional teams incorporate team members from several departments and specialties, where each member has their own unique issues and perspectives. The reasons why cross-functional teams work and why they often do not work is because they will usually be highly diverse in the backgrounds of the team members. When dealing with a cross-functional team the objective must be clear, and increased communication is essential in nurturing the foundation of trust between thee team members. In order to avoid arguments, strong leadership must be established, as it helps to develop and foster unity that will be the key to the project’s success. In cross-functional teams, those that know more should be able to have the capacity to relay more to the group, by effectively creating a careful balance so that everyone will have input. In all types of teams, but in particular cross-functional teams, they must have support the stakeholders and have a type of sponsorship with upper management, so that the organization will have a clear understanding of the team’s goals and objectives. In each team structure, in order to exert control, communication must remain a priority, establishing rules, structure, boundaries, and open channel for all members to communicate will be essential in establishing trust, motivation, and finding support within the organization.

One of the main points in project management is project staffing, which involves the plans of selecting and gathering a project team, where Kenneth agrees that identification and commitments are essential in controlling the project. When forming a team, the project manager must create a staff rosters in which the set of skills, background, and talents are compared with existing members of the team.  In scoping the requirements for each team, the project manager must gather information on the estimate number of roles needed for each deliverable. When project staffing, the project roster must include the assigned roles that will match the projects requirements for staffing needs. When leaders are managing the projects and creating a project roster for roles, they must analyze any possible skill gabs, of shortfalls in resources. In knowing this information, it will enable the leaders the ability to seek out individuals that will resolve these potential problems in the project. One of the most critical components in project management is to keep the communication channel clear with key stakeholders and sponsors within the organization. This will enable them to provide additional support such as extension on deadline, financial support, and help in supplying adequate staffing.

Project staffing is a productive process that requires the leader to be adequately trained and aware of the risks and pitfalls that are needed in fulfilling the roles and requirements for the project. There are several problems that will arise in project staffing, according to Kenneth, there are options that are available in resolving these issues. These options include: arranging form more time that is needed for each team member, obtaining additional staff that work within the organization, hire staff for the project, outsource for help, train the existing members, and the project’s scope, and plan for overtime work in the project, which helps in establishing control. In resolving these issues one of the best ways in going through with the project staffing is to create a plan that will is realistic in obtaining resources whether internal or external, getting approvals from sponsors or stakeholders, and hire the right people that can adequately fulfill the roles that are required in the project. More importantly leaders must establish commitment from each team member that is added to the project. Within project staffing the individuals must be able to openly communicate within a team setting, as leaders must always encourage communication because it helps in building trust. The leader must also spell out the needs of the team, and try to comprehend that not all team members will have the same needs. Much like managing virtual teams, and other structures in project staffing, leaders much also value the contributions of that each team member will bring, motivate the individuals through self-development and challenges, where their effort is recognized and rewarded on their performance. Leaders must also see to it to discourage any forms of destructive criticism and to always remain positive, and negotiate opportunities for win/win situations. The commitments that are expected from each team member when staff must commitment to managing their time properly, and engage each team member in setting goals, planning and decision making, and risk assessment.

At the start of each project, leaders must gain control through several methods that relate to exerting control over teams that work globally, virtually, and cross-functionally. Leaders must develop a project roster that identifies the gaps in project roles, create a project plan that outlines the problems, and potential risks that inadequate staffing will yield. This will enable leaders to gain support from their sponsors, and to also mitigate any problems that immediate hiring will solve. With a clear plan, project staffing will provide leaders with the capacity to mitigate and control teams by getting commitment from each team members and creating an environment in which communication will be the key to success. At the start of the project, the leader will already have a guarantee that he/she has hired the correct individuals because they have been critique, have given their commitment, and have the skill necessary in completing the project.