Leading in a Multicultural Virtual Organization

Leading in a Multicultural Virtual Organization

Refer to the article “Successfully Transitioning to a Virtual Organization: Challenges, Impact and Technology,” where the author presents factors that can enhance or derail success in a virtual organization.

Imagine that you are a certified project manager at Arup. Arup conducts robust post-project peer reviews. You are assigned to assess the Water Cube team’s performance managing a global, virtual, and diverse project team.

Prepare a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses these items:

Select two enhancers from the model in Figure 1 below. Assess whether or not the Water Cube project management team achieved the selected enhancers. Identify specific examples to justify your assessment.
Select two derailers from the model in Figure 1 below. Assess whether or not the Water Cube project management team successfully avoided the selected derailers. Identify specific examples to justify your assessment.

Figure 1: A Model to Enhance Leadership Skills for Success in a Multicultural Virtual Organization
Enhancers	Derailers
Promote trust and maintain effective working relationships with virtual workers.	Inability to establish the additional levels of trust required with remote workers
Establish virtual guiding principles and organization charters to ensure the organization is in alignment.	Inadequate communications skills required for virtual network effectiveness
Identify and define virtual worker roles, responsibilities, and accountability.	Lack of comfort and expertise with technologies required for success in the virtual organization
Establish a reward and recognition process commensurate with the virtual organization characteristics while maintaining consistency with traditional organization structure.	Inability to address conflict resolution within the group
Demonstrate cultural competency when interacting globally.	Lack of sensitivity toward different styles of communication
Source: Successfully transitioning to a virtual organization: Challenges, impact and technology. (2010, April). HR Magazine, 55(4), 1–9.

References:

Successfully transitioning to a virtual organization: Challenges, impact and technology. (2010, April). HR Magazine, 55(4), 1–9.

Smits, K. (2017). An invisible constraint: Don’t overlook the power of organizational culture. Here’s how to nurture a positive environment. PM Network, 31(5), 24.