Virtual Workforce
Agenda
Virtual Workforce: An Introduction
What are some current trends?
What are the benefits and issues?
Organizational Behavior: Applied!
Is your organization fit for a virtual workforce?
The path ahead for your organization!
Virtual Workforce: An Introduction
Current Trends
BenefitsWork with Global EntitiesGet experts across the globeVideo conferencing in virtual teamsCut costsIncrease productivity Use employee resource time efficientlyReduce carbon emission
Virtual Work Communication
Issues
Communication Gaps Technological Barriers Balancing work and life Psychological Issues Lack of Respect and Trust Isolation Less Opportunities Geographical Barriers Conflicts
Misattribution, Lack of mutual knowledge, Mistrust, Limited access to expertise, and the Sharing and transfer of knowledge
Organizational Behavior: Applied!
Higher level of Job Satisfaction, Employee Commitment, Job Involvement (Positive Attitude)
Work-Life conflict / Work-Life Balance (Individual Perspective)
Globalization Workplace Diversity Cultural Bias Stereotyping
Is your organization fit for a virtual workforce?
Wayne EnterprisesCharacteristics
Stark IndustriesCharacteristics
Organization is a Claims Consultant company - gathers and analyzes quantitative data on claims and generates performance reports (Does not require face to face communication)
Organization is a Manufacturing company that deals with weapons and defense and is highly involved with the packaging and shipments department, which requires employees’ physical presence
Employees are working from New York, Chicago and California
Employees are working from China, Germany and India
Members are static and do not transition off teams – all are part of a formal team
Members transition on and off teams – not formally part of teams
They have equal access to electronic communication and collaboration technology
They do not have equal access to electronic communication and collaboration technology
Characteristic Checklist
Members of the organization have the same native language
Organization only has to deal with one country’s regulatory authority
Members of the organization have equal access to electronic communication and technology
Members of the organization are dispersed internationally
Organization is spread over multiple time zones with a large time difference (More than 4 hours difference)
Organization requires face-to-face communication
Organization will face a large expense in introducing a virtual workforce if they are dispersed globally
Organization has potential for cultural stereotyping or biases
Organization has a potential language barrier that could hinder effective communication
No. of Checkmarks = Complexity Level
Complexity Level = Benchmark to decide an organization’s compatibility in implementing Virtual Workforce
The path ahead for your organization!
In the end, it is all about your organization – whether its policies, infrastructure, work culture, leadership and other characteristics would allow an efficient Virtual Workforce to be built and managed or not!