Using a Simulation to Explore the Challenges of Communicating in a Virtual Team

VIRTUALTEAMShavebecomeanintegralpartofmanyorganizationsbecause of an increase in corporate restructuring, competition, andglobalization (Baker, 2002). Grosse (2002) defined a virtual team asone that conducts its work almost entirely through electronic technol-ogy.Virtualteammembers,whoaretypicallydispersedbothgeograph-ically and organizationally, rarely meet face to face while relying ontechnology for task-related communication (Matthews-Joy & Glad-stone, 2000).Because communication is often seen as the most important factorin coordinating work among team members (Ancona & Caldwell,1992; Dougherty, 1992; Ebadi & Utterback, 1984; Pinto, Pinto, &Prescot, 1993), effective communication is vital for virtual teams(Baker, 2002). However, “in virtual teams, separated by geographicaldistance, the process of developing a shared understanding is morechallenging” (Hinds & Weisband, 2003, p. 21). In particular, suchteams must address three challenges to accomplish their goals. Afterdescribing these challenges, this article presents an exercise in solvinga murder mystery that instructors can use to engage students in virtualteamwork.