Managing Virtual Teams

Silvester Ivanaj, Professor, ICN Business School and researcher, CEREFIGE, Université de Lorraine, Nancy and Claire Bozon, Procurement Manager, Brasserie de Champigneulles, Nancy, France

The book Managing Virtual Teams, explores the critical elements that must be considered in managing virtual teams in organizations – from structural, managerial, and process points-of-view. Based in solid research, the book provides a deep look at the nature of virtual teams and the factors that enable their success. It lays out in clear detail the key characteristics of virtual teams and traces their emergence within organizations and the research literature. It makes a valuable contribution with clear guidelines for managerial practice - both to researchers interested in learning about virtual teams and to managers and organizations dealing with the challenges of managing virtual teams.

‘The review they provide is quite thorough, describing strategy, tactics, and interventions for managing virtual teams and the people in them and identifying the main inputs, processes, and outputs of that management process. It summarizes enough of what is known about the management of virtual teams in modern industrial and service organizations to yield useful insights into ho that knowledge might be applied in various contexts; a handful of case studies exemplify practical applications. It is the sort of book one might first encounter as a textbook for an advanced professional course and then keep for latter use as a handbook.’
– Research Technology Management

‘The book Managing Virtual Teams proposes a complete approach based on a solid analysis to understand the virtual team environment. It gives practical tips also, which is very helpful and can be adapted to various situations in business and/or education. Virtual team managers, virtual team members and anyone involved in virtual collaborative connections are clearly guided and will find answers to the main questions raised by virtual teaming.’
– Corinne Gendron, University of Quebec at Montreal, Canada

‘Managing Virtual Teams is an absolutely essential read for anyone interested in learning more about today's most common work structure – global virtual teams. Because the book takes an evidence-based approach to understanding global virtual team leadership, readers can be confident that the advice and tools offered herein will help them in their journey to be better team leaders. The authors artfully blend research findings and practical examples to deliver an indispensable leadership toolkit for the 21st Century.’
– Bradley L. Kirkman, North Carolina State University, US

‘This comprehensive volume provides excellent coverage of the scholarly landscape for virtual teaming. Ivanaj and Bozon have integrated a variety of research streams and practical techniques that should prove to be very useful for anyone studying or working in virtual teams. The chapter on leadership and conflict management is an especially thoughtful and welcome addition to the literature, given we know less about these arenas, and yet they tend to be critical roadblocks for many teams. I commend the authors on developing an excellent resource!’
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