This definitive resource provides you with a start-to-finish methodology for building and implementing successful virtual teams in any organization. It describes today's best practical tools in virtual team design, project management, and change management to give you a rich, hands-on understanding of virtual collaboration and the many benefits that build the case for virtual team initiatives. You get expert guidelines for evaluating today's collaborative technologies and software applications, and selecting those that best meet an organization's specific needs. The book systematically maps out every step of team implementation, from identifying ideal participants to measuring team performance, and its coverage of key success factors gives you a veritable checklist of critical issues to monitor. Throughout, you find expert guidance to overcome the challenges unique to virtual teams, such as the need for facilitation in the absence of face-to-face encounters. Examples and case studies offer you field-tested perspective that further ensures your effective transition from traditional teams to virtual teams in any setting.
Collaboration in the 21st Century - The Knowledge Era. The Knowledge Worker: The New Economic Resource. Collaboration and Knowledge Management. The Virtual Team: A Promising Investment. Building the Business Case. ; Collaborative Technologies - Technologies Overview. Selecting the Right Technology. Integration Issues. ; From the Traditional to the Virtual Team - The Virtual Challenge: Building Trust. Group Dynamics. Smart People Getting Smarter. Dealing With Culture. Facilitating the Team. Getting Results. ; Ecollaboration Methodology - A Methodology: A Basic Recipe. The Resources, Roles, and Responsibilities. Plan and Deliverables. The Tasks in Detail. ; Key Success Factors - Commitment of Management and Project Sponsor. Knowledge Culture and Focus on Human Resources. Organizational Change Management. Ecollaboration Ecosystem. Structured Ecollaboration Methodology. Facilitation Strategy. Technology Infrastructure and Proven Collaborative Software. Virtual Team Experts. ; Conclusion. ; Appendix: How to Use the CD-ROM;
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Francine Gignac
Francine Gignac is a management consultant with Actigo Inc. in Quebec, Canada. She has over 20 years of experience in information technology and organizational strategy, most recently in the field of virtual team design and implementation. She has held key management positions or consulted for Nortel, IBM, Bombardier Canadair, the City of Montreal, Hydro-Quebec, and the DMR consulting group. Ms. Gignac also works closely with leading collaborative technologies firms. She is currently offering a virtual training program in Ecollaboration, the way to learn about virtual teaming.