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!