You are a team lead who received a message from your manager asking you to explore integrating your team in Bangalore with a team in Singapore. You held a meeting with your team to discuss the options. There was a discussion about the challenges of bonding with a virtual team versus an in-person team. However, one team member believed newer technologies could help stay connected virtually. Another suggested holding quarterly video meetings for teams to share personal updates and bond. In the end, the team concluded it would be difficult to maintain the same level of bonding virtually but that working virtually is possible with the right technologies and efforts to stay connected.

2. Scenario 1
You are a Team Lead managing a team
based out at Bangalore location.
One fine day, you get an urgent message from your
manager.

3. The message
You are not sure about working
with virtual team and what are
the impediments towards team
building for the same.
Just now had a
meeting with the
GM. He had asked
us to explore the
option of integration
with the team at
Singapore
(discussed the other
day). Call me
tomorrow. Will
discuss further.

4. Your options
Option 1
Go ahead with team
integration straight
away.
Option 2
Discuss with your
team and take their
opinion.

5. Option 1
You can do better
Your decision clearly missed out on
team concurrence part. You need to
have a 360 degree view of a situation to
take an informed decision. Talk with
your team and understand their
viewpoints before deciding on the
issue.
Go ahead with team
integration straight away.
Discuss with your team and
take their opinion.

6. Option 2
Go ahead with team
integration straight away.
Good Job
Teaming is the key to success.
You are on the right track. Go
ahead with a team meeting and
discuss all issues to be able to
take an informed decision.
Discuss with your team and
take their opinion.

7. Meet the team
Anil Malhotra
Tech Support Executive
Madhvi Mudigal
Program Manager
Arijit Basu
Project Manager
Milind Somany
Advisory IT Architect

8. The meeting starts and opinions flow
Biggest challenge is
bonding with the
team, which is always
going to be weak at virtual
space.
Anil Malhotra
Madhvi Mudigal
Arijit Basu
Milind Somany

9. The meeting starts and opinions flow
I believe it is possible
to stay connected with
virtual teams using
smarter technologies.
Anil Malhotra
Madhvi Mudigal
Arijit Basu
Milind Somany

10. The meeting starts and opinions flow
Easier said
than done 
Anil Malhotra
Madhvi Mudigal
Arijit Basu
Milind Somany

11. The meeting starts and opinions flow
How about conducting meeting
(bonding session) once a quarter
over Net meeting with our virtual
team? They share pictures of their
families, recent vacations, or talk
about a personal hobbies.
Anil Malhotra
Madhvi Mudigal
Arijit Basu
Milind Somany

12. Conclusions from the team meeting
It is difficult to maintain same
level of team bonding with colocated team as well as with
the virtual team.
It is very much possible to
work effectively in a virtual
space. There are smarter
technologies out there to
help you stay connected with
anyone anywhere in the
world all the time.

13. Choice 1
You can do better
It’s more a myth than reality:
Technology gives you endless ways to
stay connect and share.
The range could be from virtual team
celebrations of birthdays and an effort to
share beyond what is happening in the
project.
It is difficult to maintain same
level of team bonding with colocated team as well as with
the virtual team.
It is very much possible to
work effectively in a virtual
space. There are smarter
technologies out there to
help you stay connected with
anyone anywhere in the
world all the time.

14. Choice 2
It is difficult to maintain same
level of team bonding with colocated team as well as with
the virtual team.
Good Job
The company truly believes smarter
working in a globally competitive
marketplace, where working in virtual
place is very commonplace. One needs
to build trust and commitments for a
long lasting relationship with virtual
team.
It is very much possible to
work effectively in a virtual
space. There are smarter
technologies out there to
help you stay connected with
anyone anywhere in the
world all the time.