Where in the World is My Team?: Making a Success of Your Virtual Global Workplac

Publisher Description

As the economy becomes increasingly global, businesses need employees who can work in teams that cross borders and transcend physical spaces. In Where in the World Is My Team, fictional character Will Williams shares entertaining anecdotes and practical advice to accustom readers to the challenges of a global, virtual workplace. This easy-to-follow guide, ideal for managers and those interested in succeeding in a global economy, introduces new technologies but focuses especially on the six Key Performance Zones for global team collaboration with briefing report summaries to emphasize key points.

Notes

A practical but funny and entertaining guide to success in today's global and virtual workplace.

Back Cover

The work revolution is here and now! Connecting with colleagues around the globe via technologies such as web conferencing, social networks, online forums, blogs and wikis is transforming the way we work . . . but . . . there are many challenges to be overcome in making the new workplace work for us. Not just technical challenges, but human ones. Collaboration can be difficult enough when we are working face-to-face with others, but put us thousands of miles apart, in multiple time zones, and in diverse cultural groups, and . . . watch out! This book provides the concepts and tools for making global collaboration a success for you and your business, every time. It doesn't matter if you are new to working in the virtual global workplace, or very experienced, inside you will find a wealth of practical know-how that you can use immediately to get great results. Did we mention that it is also hugely entertaining? Definitely not your business-as-usual business book. "This book really hits the mark. Talent is everywhere, but the challenge is to meld it into a collaborative force that can continue to drive our global competitiveness. The book isn't just a fun read. It's packed with practical tips for enabling people to work together effectively in the global workplace. We have excellent collaboration technologies, but it will be the mindsets and skills for working across distances that will truly make the difference." Brian Callaghan, Vice President, Leadership & Executive Development, ArcelorMittal ". . . very practical, innovative, and entertaining. Instead of producing another formulaic business book, Terry Brake has humanized the new global and virtual workplace and put some flesh and blood behind all the technological glitz. As well as giving us a glimpse into the new workplace, he is also trying to prepare us for the fact that as the Gamer generations come to work, the new workspace may someday become a gamespace. Are we ready to play?" Margaret Regan, President and CEO, Future Work Institute "It's wild, but I get it. A real contribution. Terry Brake has combined the new technological world of avatars, blogs digital non-verbals, and VoIP with the challenges of managing global teams in a way which opens new horizons and methods for global management. In addition, he has used these modern methods to address basic age old issues of group communication, cohesion, coordination and trust in a groundbreaking way to provide a whole new toolkit for leaders of global teams. This is an impressive and futuristic view of global team leadership." Stephen H. Rhinesmith, Senior Partner - Executive Learning Center, Oliver Wyman-Delta Organization & Leadership and author of Managers Guide to Globalization: Six Skills for Success in a Changing World "A delightful book filled with great insights and pragmatic suggestions for how to thrive in the emerging world of distributed teams and virtual collaboration spaces. The key is not more new technology but new ways to stay grounded, focused and engaged with our virtual team members." John Seely Brown, Independent co-chairman, Deloitte Center for Edge Innovation, Former Chief Scientist, Xerox Corp and Director of Xerox PARC, Co-author, The Social Life of Information, HBSP 2000.

Flap

The work revolution is here and now! Connecting with colleagues around the globe via technologies such as web conferencing, social networks, online forums, blogs and wikis is transforming the way we work . . . but . . . there are many challenges to be overcome in making the new workplace work for us. Not just technical challenges, but human ones. Collaboration can be difficult enough when we are working face-to-face with others, but put us thousands of miles apart, in multiple time zones, and in diverse cultural groups, and . . . watch out! This book provides the concepts and tools for making global collaboration a success for you and your business, every time. It doesn't matter if you are new to working in the virtual global workplace, or very experienced, inside you will find a wealth of practical know-how that you can use immediately to get great results. Did we mention that it is also hugely entertaining? Definitely not your business-as-usual business book. "This book really hits the mark. Talent is everywhere, but the challenge is to meld it into a collaborative force that can continue to drive our global competitiveness. The book isn't just a fun read. It's packed with practical tips for enabling people to work together effectively in the global workplace. We have excellent collaboration technologies, but it will be the mindsets and skills for working across distances that will truly make the difference." Brian Callaghan, Vice President, Leadership & Executive Development, ArcelorMittal ". . . very practical, innovative, and entertaining. Instead of producing another formulaic business book, Terry Brake has humanized the new global and virtual workplace and put some flesh and blood behind all the technological glitz. As well as giving us a glimpse into the new workplace, he is also trying to prepare us for the fact that as the Gamer generations come to work, the new workspace may someday become a gamespace. Are we ready to play?" Margaret Regan, President and CEO, Future Work Institute "It's wild, but I get it. A real contribution. Terry Brake has combined the new technological world of avatars, blogs digital non-verbals, and VoIP with the challenges of managing global teams in a way which opens new horizons and methods for global management. In addition, he has used these modern methods to address basic age old issues of group communication, cohesion, coordination and trust in a groundbreaking way to provide a whole new toolkit for leaders of global teams. This is an impressive and futuristic view of global team leadership." Stephen H. Rhinesmith, Senior Partner - Executive Learning Center, Oliver Wyman-Delta Organization & Leadership and author of Managers Guide to Globalization: Six Skills for Success in a Changing World "A delightful book filled with great insights and pragmatic suggestions for how to thrive in the emerging world of distributed teams and virtual collaboration spaces. The key is not more new technology but new ways to stay grounded, focused and engaged with our virtual team members." John Seely Brown, Independent co-chairman, Deloitte Center for Edge Innovation, Former Chief Scientist, Xerox Corp and Director of Xerox PARC, Co-author, The Social Life of Information, HBSP 2000.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ix Cast of Characters xiii Welcome Mat 1 Let the Games Begin 3 Cooperation 21 Convergence 43 Coordination 61 Capability 85 Communication 109 Cultural Intelligence 139 Showtime: All Together Now! 169 Briefing Report: Global Virtual Team Essentials 185 Useful Terms 211

Review

"This is a well done and much needed book for anyone dealing with the challenges of a geographically dispersed team." (ManagementCraft.typepad.com, March 28th 2009) "... some important illustrations of the benefits and challenges of working across multiple countries, time zones, and cultures.... It's worth reading" (Intranets, January 2009)

Long Description

The work revolution is here and now! Connecting with colleagues around the globe via technologies such as web conferencing, social networks, online forums, blogs and wikis is transforming the way we work . . . but . . . there are many challenges to be overcome in making the new workplace work for us. Not just technical challenges, but human ones. Collaboration can be difficult enough when we are working face-to-face with others, but put us thousands of miles apart, in multiple time zones, and in diverse cultural groups, and . . . watch out! This book provides the concepts and tools for making global collaboration a success for you and your business, every time. It doesn t matter if you are new to working in the virtual global workplace, or very experienced, inside you will find a wealth of practical know-how that you can use immediately to get great results. Did we mention that it is also hugely entertaining? Definitely not your business-as-usual business book. This book really hits the mark. Talent is everywhere, but the challenge is to meld it into a collaborative force that can continue to drive our global competitiveness. The book isn t just a fun read. It s packed with practical tips for enabling people to work together effectively in the global workplace. We have excellent collaboration technologies, but it will be the mindsets and skills for working across distances that will truly make the difference. Brian Callaghan, Vice President, Leadership & Executive Development, ArcelorMittal . . . very practical, innovative, and entertaining. Instead of producing another formulaic business book, Terry Brake has humanized the new global and virtual workplace and put some flesh and blood behind all the technological glitz. As well as giving us a glimpse into the new workplace, he is also trying to prepare us for the fact that as the Gamer generations come to work, the new workspace may someday become a gamespace. Are we ready to play? Margaret Regan, President and CEO, Future Work Institute It s wild, but I get it. A real contribution. Terry Brake has combined the new technological world of avatars, blogs digital non-verbals, and VoIP with the challenges of managing global teams in a way which opens new horizons and methods for global management. In addition, he has used these modern methods to address basic age old issues of group communication, cohesion, coordination and trust in a groundbreaking way to provide a whole new toolkit for leaders of global teams. This is an impressive and futuristic view of global team leadership. Stephen H. Rhinesmith, Senior Partner Executive Learning Center, Oliver Wyman-Delta Organization & Leadership and author of Managers Guide to Globalization: Six Skills for Success in a Changing World A delightful book filled with great insights and pragmatic suggestions for how to thrive in the emerging world of distributed teams and virtual collaboration spaces. The key is not more new technology but new ways to stay grounded, focused and engaged with our virtual team members. John Seely Brown, Independent co-chairman, Deloitte Center for Edge Innovation, Former Chief Scientist, Xerox Corp and Director of Xerox PARC, Co-author, The Social Life of Information, HBSP 2000.

Review Quote

"...some important illustrations of the benefits and challenges of working across multiple countries, time zones, and cultures...It's worth reading" (Intranets, January 2009) "This is a well done and much needed book for anyone dealing with the challenges of a geographically dispersed team." (ManagementCraft.typepad.com, March 28th 2009)

Details