Innovation Process is Facilitated in Virtual Environment of R&D Teams

Innovation is becoming the most important key issue for company's success in the 21st century. In the competitive environment it is necessary for the enterprises to put together different capabilities and services with the goal. It is widely accepted that innovation can be better achieved by working in team particularly in the virtual environments. The employed web services technology, although very popular nowadays but it is still not mature enough, so dealing with it can bring new findings. Virtual teams base on information technology are formed to facilitate transnational innovation processes and it should be noted that innovation has a positive impact on corporate performance if it is well guided. This has the pronounced effect when it comes to the learning issues as the virtual preconditions persist. In this environment the possibility of getting closer to the interest of learner from the new environment raise as the barriers being imposed by the service provider is reduced and the freedom of what is require to learn is improved. Information and communication technology has brought about significant changes in organizations and produced important benefits, including in the areas of innovation which is recognized as a prime source of national competitive advantage. This contribution proposes a conceptual model for understanding and analyzing the process of virtual R&D team as an innovation and technology assimilation facilitator when it comes to the issue of conveying innovative message for learning by individuals. The context of the knowledge-based economy introduces a major shift from serial to simultaneous R&D in the way of idea conception to technology creation is conceived. This paper briefly reviews the existing perspectives on virtual teams and their effect on innovation and technology regarding the learning capability which is being altered. It also discusses the main characteristics of virtual teams and clarifies the different aspects of virtual team application in the topic. To support the theoretical analysis, this paper provides a comprehensive review based on authentic and reputed publications. We argue that scanty research has been conducted to facilitate understanding the problem of systematically governing creative innovation toward a technology through virtual R&D teams in the atmosphere of educating individuals based on what they interest them to learn.Virtual team; e-learning; Innovation; Research and development, Learning

Virtual Teams and International Business Teaching and Learning: The Case of the Global Enterprise Experience (GEE)

The increasing importance of global virtual teams in business is reflected in the classroom by the increased adoption of activities that facilitate real-time cross-cultural interaction. This article documents the experience of students from two Colombian universities who participated in a collaborative international project using virtual teams as part of the international business (IB) curriculum. The data reveals that in spite of challenges associated with time zone differences, technology limitations, and trust issues, the vast majority of students perceived that the use of virtual teams as a teaching tool facilitates cultural understanding and IB-relevant learning. The findings of this research suggest that online experiential exercises can be an effective approach in teaching and in the development of virtual collaboration skills

Knowledge Acquisition and Integration in Virtual Teams - A Practice-based Perspective

Although virtual teams have become increasingly important for managing knowledge work in present organizations, the extant literature suggests that they are faced with significant hurdles to knowledge acquisition and integration. On the other hand, research focusing on knowledge management in virtual teams is yet to be enriched. This dissertation aims to add to the understanding of the mechanisms by which virtual teams acquire and integrate knowledge to achieve favorable individual and team performance, and of the role of information and communication technology (ICT) in the process. Based on a practice-based perspective of learning that suggests learning is situated in individuals’ work practice in relation to its surrounding physical and social context, a three-phased study is designed. The first phase attempts to define and measure shared practice – the key construct in the practice-based learning theory, and examine the relationship between shared practice, learning outcomes and use of ICT. The second phase adopts a process-oriented approach and focuses on explaining how knowledge acquisition and integration occurs through ICT-enabled work practice. The third phase works as a substantial extension of the first two phases by replicating them in a second organization with different settings, with the aim to examine the generalizability of the findings from the first organization. This study is expected to contribute to the growing body of the virtual team literature, its aspect of knowledge management in particular, by looking into the construct of shared practice, its relationship with learning outcomes, and the process of practice-based learning in virtual teams

Virtual teamwork:features of effective teamwork

Abstract. Nowadays organizations rely more and more on distance working and virtual teams. The aim of this study is to identify the characteristics of effective virtual teamwork and to provide a wide view on what a team is, how it is defined, which are the enabling factors for successful distance teamwork and what are the benefits of virtual distance teamwork. This thesis is a qualitative study and was conducted as a systematic literature review. Data is collected both from University of Oulu Nelli portal and The University of Melbourne Discovery Database and studies up to 15 years old are approved. Based on the results, teams are open and complex systems where the personalities, level of expertise and current cognition of the team members modify the team building, learning and working. High team resilience in virtual teams allows teams to cope through multiple tasks and is also directly connected to the outcome and effectiveness of team working. Literature describes team learning as essential for team working, and it can be enhanced via shared understanding and communication. A good team consists of members who are willing to cope with others: all other team building blocks are unnecessary if members are not able to collaborate. The most important role of the leader is to motivate and divide clear tasks and roles to virtual team members. There are multiple benefits in virtual distance teamworking, e.g. we will show that job satisfaction and productivity may increase when work can be done regardless of time and space. These results suggest that among other things, basic team learning, resilience and effective communication help to build trusting and effective virtual working teams. This data supports the view that it is possible for teams to work even cross-culturally without seeing each other by using only electric technology. Digitalisation enables effective communication and sharing, which in turn helps to build trust among members — even if they will never see each other face-to-face

Good practices in virtual leadership – the e-3cs rule (communication, trust and coordination)

Studies conducted under a doctorate programme, aiming at designing a Skills and Good Practices Model in e-leadership, clearly identified, from literature review, eDelphi study and further analysis of the results obtained from an interview Focus Group, a set of items linked to e-Leaders specific skills and good practices required in the process of collaborative learning within virtual teams ( e- Teams): “ 11 – Effective e-leader communication”, “ 5 - e-leader skills to building trust”, “12- Operating coordination of the Virtual Team”; and “4 – E-leader behaviours to promote effectiveness”. Since these items are considered of utmost importance in the e-Delphi study and in the Focus Group, they validate the areas of the Skill Model MOODO COMPETE E-LEADER, namely the Operational Coordination, Training and Education, Architecture and Technological Infrastructures. For each of these areas a set of guidelines is presented that provide the e-Leader a series of good practices that facilitate the making of a Global Environment, Virtual, to build High Levels of Trust within the e-Team and the spread of the Creation and Sharing of Knowledge. This environment must be supported by an appropriate structure of empowered leadership. The article show also a model for understanding the specific skills and characteristics of e-leadership in Learning Management Systems (LMS), used for implementation of virtual teams. A framework was done, to identify skills and characteristics of the e-leaders, based on the review of literature about the e-leadership paradigm and its relationship with the virtual teams

Considering Team Development Stages in Virtual Collaboration for Feedback Optimization

Learning collaboratively in virtual groups is seen as a promising alternative to the outcome of an individual (Breen,2013). However, working in a virtual group does not guarantee a good solution and performance of the individuals. Rather, working in groups presents several hurdles that need to be overcome to realize the full potential of the group and allow it to focus on performance (Peters & Manz, 2008). Franceschi et al. (2007) also state that learning in virtual groups has a positive impact on student learning and engagement, but that there is a lack of pedagogical concepts to guide the groups on their way to performance. Also Gabelica et al. 2012 state:” providing teams with adequate support is needed to secure teamwork. Research on team learning and performance has increased our understanding of how teams learn but is still in its development phase and in search for leverage points that can be used to trigger team learning” (Gabelica et al., 2012, p.124). Within this scope, Krause et al. (2009) make clear that groups use feedback more efectively than individuals and that this has a benefcial efect on the learning behavior of the group members. Concerning feedback research, it should be noted that feedback can have a positive efect on learning behavior and outcome, provided that it is implemented correctly (Shute,2007). ... To include multiple perspectives, an explanatory mixed methods approach from Hanson et al. (2005) with the support of Ivankova et al. (2006) has been chosen. In the frst step, a superordinate quantitative survey was conducted among the students of the virtual collaboration case study work in the virtual classroom. The results of the survey have then been examined and explained in more detail by e-tutors in a qualitative focus group discussion to deepen the understanding. Subsequently, the results were classifed and interpreted within the scope of recent feedback research. Based on the combination of a quantitative survey and the qualitative focus group discussion, seven concrete recommendations for the design of feedback guidelines in virtual group work were subsequently derived. ... [Aus: Introduction

Using Design Science Research to Develop a Conceptual Solution for Improving Knowledge Sharing in a Virtual Workspace

Enhancements in technology have resulted in significant changes to day-to-day operations of organizations in the present day. One especially noteworthy change is the alteration in the nature of teams from being co-located, with face-to-face interaction, to virtual, with the involvement of information and communication technologies (ICT) to facilitate communication. This change in team character has had a downstream impact on a key element of an organization’s competitive edge, namely knowledge. Overall, there is consensus that knowledge is a crucial facet of the competitive edge of an organization. Consequently, knowledge management, knowledge sharing, and organizational learning are essential components of an organization’s sustained existence and effectiveness in the competitive marketplace and considerable academic and industry attention has been paid to this matter. However, the present day scenario of global organizations and dispersed teams, within and across geographies, transforms the matter of knowledge sharing and organizational learning into one of great complexity. Thus, the present study was interested in understanding the modalities of knowledge sharing and consequently organizational learning in the context of a virtual workspace, that is, teams operating from physically distinct locations and communicating using ICT tools. Overall, the objective of this study was to propose a conceptual model using the Design Science Research (DSR) approach to enhance organizational learning and knowledge sharing in the context of the virtual workspaces of the present day work environment. Further, the conceptual model is extended to propose the use of a Learnin

Understanding collaboration in Global Software Engineering (GSE) teams with the use of sensors: introducing a multi-sensor setting for observing social and human aspects in project management

This paper discusses on-going research in the ways Global Software Engineering (GSE) teams collaborate for a range of software development tasks. The paper focuses on providing the means for observing and understanding GSE team member collaboration including team coordination and member communication. Initially the paper provides the background on social and human issues relating to GSE collaboration. Next the paper describes a pilot study involving a simulation of virtual GSE teams working together with the use of asynchronous and synchronous communication over a virtual learning environment. The study considered the use of multiple data collection techniques recordings of SCRUM meetings, design and implementation tasks. Next, the paper discusses the use of a multi-sensor for observing human and social aspects of project management in GSE teams. The scope of the study is to provide the means for gathering data regarding GSE team coordination for project managers including member emotions, participation pattern in team discussions and potentially stress levels

Understanding collaboration in Global Software Engineering (GSE) teams with the use of sensors: introducing a multi-sensor setting for observing social and human aspects in project management

This paper discusses on-going research in the ways Global Software Engineering (GSE) teams collaborate for a range of software development tasks. The paper focuses on providing the means for observing and understanding GSE team member collaboration including team coordination and member communication. Initially the paper provides the background on social and human issues relating to GSE collaboration. Next the paper describes a pilot study involving a simulation of virtual GSE teams working together with the use of asynchronous and synchronous communication over a virtual learning environment. The study considered the use of multiple data collection techniques recordings of SCRUM meetings, design and implementation tasks. Next, the paper discusses the use of a multi-sensor for observing human and social aspects of project management in GSE teams. The scope of the study is to provide the means for gathering data regarding GSE team coordination for project managers including member emotions, participation pattern in team discussions and potentially stress levels