the latest issue of organizational dynamics has an article entitled ‘conflict resolution in virtual teams’. below is the abstract and citation details. i don’t have access to the article so haven’t read it yet but it would be fascinating to read about negotiation and mediation.

Conflict Resolution in Virtual Teams
Yuhyung Shin. Organizational Dynamics. New York: 2005.Vol.34, Iss. 4; pg. 331

Despite the wide spread of virtual teams, little has been known abut group processes, let alone conflict resolution, in such teams. A growing number of organizations are adopting virtual team systems to deal with the rapidly changing environment. To increase the effectiveness of virtual teams, sources of conflict and ways to resolve conflict should be explored. This paper aims at identifying sources of conflict in virtual teams and suggesting how they can be resolved using electronic means. Virtual negotiation and mediation systems are introduced as conflict resolution mechanisms for virtual team members. In addition, examples of virtual negotiation and mediation are provided to help readers understand the process of virtual conflict resolution. Assessment and training of virtual conflict resolution skills as well as the implications of virtual conflict resolution systems are addressed.

there’s a nice post at virtual canuck about virtual parties. to celebrate the end of semester, this virtual classroom had a party. i have tried to host virtual parties before – namely with e-mint xmas parties. the blog points to an audiographic web conference software which i haven’t seen before. it’s been a while since i organised an e-mint party and when i did it was strickly chat room and if we were lucky a webcam here & there.

the post identifies that asynch parties do not work and i’d agree. there is something about ‘being there’ sharing that drink while others are doing the same vs sitting at your computer drinking a beer and trying to be in a party mood when someone else was doing the same 5 hrs earlier. this class had some time zone issues but it could have been worse.

i like how they did presents. that’s a very nice touch.

i wonder how long the entire party lasted? i wonder if there was anyone who was f2f with classmates or if everyone was virtual. having the f2f and virtual element is interesting. for one xmas party we had the majority of people at a net cafe interacting f2f and over time geographically disperesed people would drop into the chat room. i found this sort of hard at the time… watching for people to enter the room, engaging them in conversation, getting others to engage them, not feeling like you’re ignoring the f2f group when chatting with the virtual folks… but in retrospect, i think it probably worked quite well. like any party, i think it has a LOT to do with the host.

we’re used to the party host making sure there’s enough nibbles and drink and making people feel comfy. online it’s making sure they’re comfy and any technical difficulties are sorted out prior to the party or quickly if it occurs during the party.

the same goes for an online meeting. the meeting leader as party host. my research showed leadership was very important in keeping things on track, setting the pace and acknowledging what was occuring in the group.

what qualities from a f2f party can we transfer to a virtual meeting? is there a way we can provide nibbles and drinks? how can we make people feel more comfortable? how can we get that person in the corner to come out and dance? how do we remember the party afterwards if there’s no pictures?