A conceptual framework to enhance performance in virtual information technology project teams
- Authors: Dube, Shopee M.
- Date: 2016
- Subjects: Information technology , Communication and technology , Virtual work teams , International business enterprises
- Language: English
- Type: Doctoral (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://ujcontent.uj.ac.za8080/10210/382429 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/124856 , uj:20967
- Description: Abstract: The globalisation of business and markets is growing rapidly and information and communication technologies (ICT) are developing at a very fast pace. This has resulted in the emergence and formation of virtual project teams, also referred to as global project teams. Virtual project teams have increased global competitiveness as well as investments in several types of projects in manufacturing, telecommunications, information technology, engineering, financial services and construction, and are used as a means of enhancing team performance. From this globalisation of business and markets, virtual project teams are now operating within the boundaries of the operational requirements of the team members. This allows for flexibility of working from anywhere without restrictions imposed by geographical boundaries, differences in time zones and heavily relying on communication technologies. The aim of this study was to develop a conceptual framework to improve the performance of virtual project teams, which information technology (IT) project managers can use to better understand how teams can be managed. The quantitative research methodology was employed in this study to collect data using an online questionnaire and the data was analysed using statistical methods. This research methodology allowed the researcher to explore this phenomenon in greater depth. The purposive sampling method (non-probability) was adopted for this study. The key findings of this research are that the following factors improve the performance of virtual IT project teams in South Africa: communication, good leadership, trust, social interaction, team cooperation and commitment. The research further reveals that there is a strong correlation between these factors; hence the factors identified were all essential for the development of the conceptual framework. , Ph.D. (Informatics)
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An investigation into the management of geographically dispersed (virtual) engineering teams in the South African railway industry
- Authors: Misthry, Kavish
- Date: 2013-05-28
- Subjects: Virtual engineering , Virtual work teams , Railroads management , Transnet (Firm : South Africa) , Teams in the workplace - Management
- Type: Mini-Dissertation
- Identifier: uj:7564 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/8426
- Description: M.Ing. (Engineering Management) , This dissertation covers research into the principles and processes associated with the management of geographically dispersed project teams in the railway industry of South Africa; and aims to highlight possible problem areas as well as techniques in order to assist with effective virtual project management. The paper details several key areas in virtual team management and railway signalling, that are spread over various chapters. An introduction to the railway industry is presented in Chapter 1 to provide the background on which this research is based. Thereafter the problem statement and research objectives are outlined, with particular attention paid to the organisation on which this study is aligned: Transnet Freight Rail, a division of Transnet Ltd. The concept of teams and its importance in project management (using both classic and virtual teams) is a topic widely explored in the academic world. A literature review is necessary to identify areas which need further expansion. The topic of virtual projects in the S.A. railway industry is one such example. Virtual teams do not benefit from working together in a lab or boardroom, hence the need for an alternative form of management. Teamwork cannot be successful unless there is trust, and this is more evident in a virtual team whereby trust is harder to form and easier to break. Chapter 2 elaborates on various methods to build trust and how not to break it.Various methods of research exist and are generally divided into two categories: Qualitative and Quantitative. A review is required in order to accurately select the applicable form of research. This resulted in the decision to utilise both qualitative and quantitative research, via case studies, surveys and casual-comparisons. This topic is further expanded on in chapter 3. Chapters 4, 5 and 6 present all results obtained during the course of this research. The case study in Chapter 4 aims to analyse the detailed processes used in the management of a railway signalling project with a widely dispersed project team. Chapter 5 introduces the research survey performed by various signalling project and engineering managers in the organisation.
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Leadership complexity in the formation of virtual teams
- Authors: De Oliveira, Maria Da Conceicao Monteiro
- Date: 2011-11-24
- Subjects: Leadership , Virtual work teams
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:1723 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/4073
- Description: M.Comm. , The discipline of management, denoting the concepts of management and leadership, has been deliberated in boundless number of books, magazines and journals over the years. Some views are that there is a distinction between management and leaders, whilst others vehemently argue that there is no difference between the two terms, and use them synonymously. Leadership is the nucleus of all organisations. Moreover, sustained performance, competitive advantage and success, depends both on effective leadership, as well as committed followers.The literature study undertaken discovered writings confirming the distinctions between the terms groups and teams: groups may fall inside or outside the boundaries of an organisation, such as social groups, whereas teams (in their various forms) are generally referred to in the context of "working teams" in an organisation. Teams may be formed from groups, subsequent to their maturity. In many instances, the usage of the terms "groups" and "teams", are also used interchangeably.
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The influence of ICT tools and project management maturity on virtual team performance
- Authors: Katane, Jacqueline
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Virtual work teams , Communication in organizations , Teams in the workplace - Computer networks , Information technology
- Language: English
- Type: Masters (Thesis)
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10210/282975 , uj:30503
- Description: Abstract: The expansion of organisations causes them into offering their products or services and/or consuming products and services that are offered abroad. It is no longer sufficient for organisations to operate locally if their desire is to reach their full potential. Broadening their scope provides the organisations with the desired growth. For the link between organisations and their offshore customers or suppliers to exist there needs to be communication across borders. Teams are formed between the different employees from the different locations to achieve a specified goal. The team members are not co-located and they need the assistance of information communications technology (ICT) tools to communicate with one another. This kind of team is referred to as a virtual team. A lot of attention has been given to virtual teams over the years but despite this attention, there is still little knowledge available about how to manage them (Dulebohn & Hoch, 2017). This indicates that there is still an opportunity to explore the success factors of virtual teams. Poor management of projects can cause the failure of a project (Anantatmula & Rad, 2013). This suggests that an organisation should invest in the maturity of their project management to ensure the success of their virtual projects. The research goal is to investigate the influence that information and communication technology tools and project management maturity has on the performance of virtual teams. This research looks at extended factors on virtual team performance which are: leadership, communication and trust. A good leader needs to have good communication skills in order to successfully coordinate a virtual team. Trust is needed for the virtual team to have honest communication among themselves. Face to face contact in virtual teams is minimal to none, affecting the performance of a virtual team and impacting on the authority and leadership in the virtual team. This also has an impact on the trust among virtual team members and the level of accountability by virtual team members. Virtual teams rely on ICT tools for communication and these tools are emerging at a frequent rate. This research aims to discover if keeping up with emerging ICT tools can supply virtual team members with improved communication which in turn will improve their performance... , M.Tech. (Applied Information Systems)
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Using virtual team project communication as a means of predicting virtual team effectiveness
- Authors: Erasmus, Estheé
- Date: 2012-09-07
- Subjects: Virtual work teams , Communication in organizations , Virtual work teams - Case studies
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:9772 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7179
- Description: M.Phil. , This dissertation provides a study of Virtual Teams and possible ways of predicting their effectiveness. The motivation for carrying out this study was to discover if there was a way of quantifying why Virtual Teams used in a particular company was proving to be very effective. A brief literature study of the topic of Virtual Teams and Virtual Team communication is given, as well as an overview of different Communication Models. A case study is made of the particular company (called DevCo Software Development as a pseudonym for the sake of confidentiality). The case study presents the results of two online surveys. One survey sent to all the employees within the Labs Department and another sent to only the Virtual Team members of a specific Virtual Team within the Labs Department. The case study concludes with an analysis of the company culture and the effect it appears to have on the way the employees use technology and the effect of this on Virtual Team success.
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Virtual working in teams : an exploratory survey of barriers
- Authors: Hodgson, Shane Ralph Colin
- Date: 2012-09-12
- Subjects: Teams in the workplace , Virtual corporations , Virtual work teams
- Type: Thesis
- Identifier: uj:10093 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/7478
- Description: D.Phil. , This exploratory study looks at the barriers to virtual working as experienced by members of global virtual teams in a major Information Technology company. The data were collected by means of an online survey, and were subjected to detailed analysis. The initial survey measured respondents' levels of agreement with statements in the areas of Trust, Communications, Conflict and Virtual Work Self-Efficacy, which had all been identified by earlier research and literature review. Data reduction of the responses revealed the emergence of several factors, including ones related to virtual work facility, conflict, communications and vicarious learning. The research uncovered interesting facts about the barriers that virtual workers perceive to working virtually, as well as their views on the effectiveness of virtual working and the need for physical contact with fellow workers. The study ends with interpretation of the emergent factors and their interrelationships, and with the significance of this for organisations wishing to implement virtual team working
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