Managing Virtual Teams

'This comprehensive volume provides excellent coverage of the scholarly landscape for virtual teaming. Ivanaj and Bozon have integrated a variety of research streams and practical techniques that should prove to be very useful for anyone studying or working in virtual teams. The chapter on leadership and conflict management is an especially thoughtful and welcome addition to the literature, given we know less about these arenas, and yet they tend to be critical roadblocks for many teams. I commend the authors on developing an excellent resource!' - Cristina Gibson, University of Western Australia The book Managing Virtual Teams explores the critical elements that must be considered in managing virtual teams in organizations from structural, managerial, and process points-of-view. Based in solid research, the book provides a deep look at the nature of virtual teams and the factors that enable their success. Using a text-analysis method, the book consolidates results from both academic and practitioners' sources about virtual team inputs, processes, and outcomes. It lays out in clear detail the key characteristics of virtual teams and traces their emergence within organizations and research literature. Managing Virtual Teams addresses the particular practices of virtual teams, not only technological-focused but also socio-emotional, including the managerial attitudes required in virtual environments seeking well-performing teams. Incorporating case studies and research results, this book demonstrates how academic research can be used to successfully manage businesses in a virtual context. This book is a valuable contribution with clear guidelines for managerial practice, both for researchers interested in learning about virtual teams and to managers and organizations dealing with the challenges of managing them. Students will also benefit from this book as they learn how to become effective and operational virtual team members, and in future, successful managers.

Table of Contents:
Contents: PART I WHAT VIRTUAL TEAMS ARE ALL ABOUT? 1. Evolutive Definition of Virtual Teams 2. Emergence of Virtual Teams 3. Mapping the Virtual Team Research Field PART II VIRTUAL TEAM INPUTS 4. Elements Supporting Virtuality Within an Organization 5. Inputs and Characteristics of Virtual Teams PART III VIRTUAL TEAM PROCESSES 6. Socio-Emotional Processes 7. Technological and Work Processes 8. Managerial Processes : Leadership and Conflict Management PART IV OUTPUTS : VIRTUAL TEAMS A SOURCE OF PERFORMANCE 9. Teamwork Performance In Virtual Teams 10. Affective Performance In Virtual Teams 11. Final Conclusions PART V CASE STUDIES Index

About the Author :
Silvester Ivanaj, Professor, ICN Business School and researcher, CEREFIGE, Université de Lorraine, Nancy and Claire Bozon, Procurement Manager, Brasserie de Champigneulles, Nancy, France

Review :
Managing Virtual Teams is an absolutely essential read for anyone interested in learning more about today's most common work structure - global virtual teams. Because the book takes an evidence-based approach to understanding global virtual team leadership, readers can be confident that the advice and tools offered herein will help them in their journey to be better team leaders. The authors artfully blend research findings and practical examples to deliver an indispensable leadership toolkit for the 21st Century.' --Bradley L. Kirkman, North Carolina State University'The review they provide is quite thorough, describing strategy, tactics, and interventions for managing virtual teams and the people in them and identifying the main inputs, processes, and outputs of that management process. It summarizes enough of what is known about the management of virtual teams in modern industrial and service organizations to yield useful insights into ho that knowledge might be applied in various contexts; a handful of case studies exemplify practical applications. It is the sort of book one might first encounter as a textbook for an advanced professional course and then keep for latter use as a handbook.' --Research Technology Management 'The book Managing Virtual Teams proposes a complete approach based on a solid analysis to understand the virtual team environment. It gives practical tips also, which is very helpful and can be adapted to various situations in business and/or education. Virtual team managers, virtual team members and anyone involved in virtual collaborative connections are clearly guided and will find answers to the main questions raised by virtual teaming.' --Corinne Gendron, University of Quebec at Montreal, Canada