The globalization of the world's economy has driven many organizations to create collaborative configurations in which teams of workers from multiple regions collaborate in synchronous and asynchronous settings. Such virtual teams are not, however, immune to the challenges of navigating cultural issues and work styles. Leadership must take into account not only geographic and time differences, but also interpersonal dynamics that may be culturally-derived.
Design a set of best practices for the leadership of cross-cultural, virtual teams. Consider the following questions in your design:
* What are the challenges posed by cultural diversity among team members? Pay particular attention to the ways in which cross-cultural teams are unique.
* How important is an understanding of the individual cultures represented on the team to successful team management? Should your best practices be culture-specific or apply to cross-cultural management in general? Cite specific examples in your analysis.
* What are the human resource considerations for designing cross-cultural and/or virtual teams? How are considerations for these two groups similar or different?