Virtual teamwork on the rise

Staff

September 12, 2008

With more telecommuting, global work forces and rising travel costs, more than two-thirds - 67 per cent - of employers expect to rely more on "virtual teams" in the future, a new survey finds.

The benefits: 75 per cent of the 278 respondents said such teams facilitate information-sharing, 70 per cent said they encourage diverse thinking, and 62 per cent said they result in higher productivity and facilitate cross-training, according to the survey from the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp).

The detriments: they are too difficult to manage, according to 35 per cent, and problematic to co-ordinate schedules, according to 31 per cent. As well, 31 per cent felt their company's technology tools are inadequate for holding virtual team meetings.