"Managing the Life Cycle of Virtual Teams"

S. Furst, M. Reeves, B. Rosen, and R. Blackburn

Academy of Management Executive

May 2004, pp. 6-20

The authors of this study tracked six virtual project teams from inception to project delivery. Using Tuckman's Stage Model for team development, they found that the following managerial interventions are most useful for each of the team stages below:

• Forming Stage
  • Provide realistic project team previews
  • Provide coaching from experienced team members
  • Develop a shared understanding and sense of team identity
  • Develop a clear mission
  • Acquire senior manager support
• Storming Stage
  • Provide face-to-face team building sessions
  • Provide training on conflict resolution
  • Encourage conflicting employees to work together to find common ground
  • Provide shuttle diplomacy and mediation to create compromise solutions
• Norming Stage
  • Create customized templates or team charters specifying task requirements
  • Set individual accountabilities, completion dates, and schedules
  • Establish procedures for information sharing
  • Distinguish task, social, and contextual information design procedures—and design procedures appropriate for each
  • Assign a team coach with skills for managing virtually
• Performing Stage
  • Ensure departmental and company culture supports virtual team work
  • Provide sponsor support and resources for the team to perform

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