John RiceSustainment Engineer| Lockheed MartinHarmony, Fl, United States
Existing research continues to support the importance of communication in the project management actively. However, little is known about the behavioral aspects of project managers’ communication competency especially as they relate to critical outcomes (Henderson, 2008) in virtual environments. One of the most critical organizational capabilities is learning to adapt to the new hypercompetitive global landscape. The skills needed in this evolving competitive context are increasing employee centric, particularly when related to those employees who are performing knowledge-based teamwork (Harvey, M., Novicevic, M. M., & Garrison, G., 2004) in structures like global virtual teams (GVTs).
In the rapidly changing world of project management, communication remains constant as a necessary and critical ability for managing projects. Henderson (2008) found that experts rate listening and verbal communication in the top 10 of a list of 50 competencies essential for project managers to be successful in today’s organizational environments. Indeed, the continuing growth of virtual contexts, with geographically dispersed team members and technology-mediated communication (Henderson, 2008), makes competency in communication all the more crucial for both contemporary and future project managers.
In today's world, virtual project teams are crucial. We live in a global village wherein teams sitting in different locations handle various components of a project. In a global company, the US designs, Mexico tests, China assembly, and India develops the software. So how do companies guarantee success in this new environment of global customers, employees, business partners and competitors? Basics of team building are still valid, but new dimensions of technology and the world economy are making matters complex and challenging for the managers (Daim, T. U., Ha, A., Reutiman, S., Hughes, B., Pathak, U., Bynum, W., & Bhatla, A., 2012).
What ways can we as a community of professionals help each other communicate? What is your best practice or method of communication with your GVT? Saving Changes...
What are the big motivation factors that will drive the communication, and keep everyone engaged?
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1 reply by John Rice
Mar 28, 2017 4:57 AM
John Rice
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Anupam,
Your question on the surface seems simple enough, the project, however, there is more to it. The factors are multi-faceted, like avoiding scope creep, unidentified risks, and stakeholder engagements. Then, I add to your second part with how to keep everyone engaged?
What methods do you use?
Saving Changes...
John RiceSustainment Engineer| Lockheed MartinHarmony, Fl, United States
Mar 28, 2017 2:00 AM
Replying to Anupam
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The first questions I will ask myself -
What are the big motivation factors that will drive the communication, and keep everyone engaged?
Anupam,
Your question on the surface seems simple enough, the project, however, there is more to it. The factors are multi-faceted, like avoiding scope creep, unidentified risks, and stakeholder engagements. Then, I add to your second part with how to keep everyone engaged?
What methods do you use? Saving Changes...
Drew CraigSr. Agile & Product Coach| VanguardPhiladelphia, Pa, United States
There are also considerations, such as authorized tools within the organization. Various technologies have been mentioned; Box, Google Docs, WhatsApp, etc. There is a strong chance these tools are not allowed, leaving the employees to leverage what is available as best they can.
One way in which organizations are helping this along is by implementing a social platform as the Intranet - JIVE, Confluence, etc. This creates a space that not only does the entire company have access too be default, but provides a social and collaborative platform for which the employees to create groups, discussions, collaborate on documents, @mention other employees, and so on. This offers a more practical solution as it maintains its user base while satisfying security, compliance, and legal.
Ultimately, it is finding the right blend of the various communication methods to best fit the team and project.
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1 reply by John Rice
Mar 28, 2017 10:27 PM
John Rice
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Andrew,
In the world of social media, the organization's security has to be maintained. I laughed at myself because I am comfortable using Whatsapp and Zoom.
Thank you for your insight
Saving Changes...
Edward DanielsProject Manager| IndependentGlen Burnie, Md, United States
Basic communication principles apply whether face-to-face or virtual. In my experience, the only difference is that with virtual communication, you have to learn to enunciate better than when you have people in a room, voice carries differently over the wires. Also, with virtual teams, get the team involved; from google hangouts, whatsapp group, skype and other forms of virtual meeting out there. Have everyone's input, vote and select a platform. From there encourage an open line of communication just as would with colocated teams.
The importance of deadlines should be communicated as well and team members should know to give the PM a heads up and not wait till the last minute if a milestone is not going to be met. Afterall, we PMs are not superhuman, just the liaison with all involved.
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1 reply by John Rice
Mar 28, 2017 10:32 PM
John Rice
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and Edward we after to remember that even as best as it gets in a GVT, we lose 85% of what being communicated because of the missing nonverbals.
I agree that setting expectations and obtaining buy-ins is important for timely communications.
I had a Company Commander once said if he has to ask for a routine report then I was late.
Saving Changes...
John RiceSustainment Engineer| Lockheed MartinHarmony, Fl, United States
Mar 28, 2017 6:13 AM
Replying to Drew Craig
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There are also considerations, such as authorized tools within the organization. Various technologies have been mentioned; Box, Google Docs, WhatsApp, etc. There is a strong chance these tools are not allowed, leaving the employees to leverage what is available as best they can.
One way in which organizations are helping this along is by implementing a social platform as the Intranet - JIVE, Confluence, etc. This creates a space that not only does the entire company have access too be default, but provides a social and collaborative platform for which the employees to create groups, discussions, collaborate on documents, @mention other employees, and so on. This offers a more practical solution as it maintains its user base while satisfying security, compliance, and legal.
Ultimately, it is finding the right blend of the various communication methods to best fit the team and project.
Andrew,
In the world of social media, the organization's security has to be maintained. I laughed at myself because I am comfortable using Whatsapp and Zoom.
Thank you for your insight Saving Changes...
John RiceSustainment Engineer| Lockheed MartinHarmony, Fl, United States
Mar 28, 2017 1:34 PM
Replying to Edward Daniels
...
Basic communication principles apply whether face-to-face or virtual. In my experience, the only difference is that with virtual communication, you have to learn to enunciate better than when you have people in a room, voice carries differently over the wires. Also, with virtual teams, get the team involved; from google hangouts, whatsapp group, skype and other forms of virtual meeting out there. Have everyone's input, vote and select a platform. From there encourage an open line of communication just as would with colocated teams.
The importance of deadlines should be communicated as well and team members should know to give the PM a heads up and not wait till the last minute if a milestone is not going to be met. Afterall, we PMs are not superhuman, just the liaison with all involved.
and Edward we after to remember that even as best as it gets in a GVT, we lose 85% of what being communicated because of the missing nonverbals.
I agree that setting expectations and obtaining buy-ins is important for timely communications.
I had a Company Commander once said if he has to ask for a routine report then I was late. Saving Changes...
