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Jessica Lipnack and Jeffrey Stamps Wiley (2000) Virtual Teams People Working Across Boundaries with Technology.

The World Wide Web has opened to the world a new workplace, and created opportunities in the third world for virtual teams to work together on projects for company's in the first world. Authors Jessica Lipnack and Jeffrey Stamps (2001) suggest that firms who fail to create these effective teams in cyberspace will not survive in the 21st Century.

One of the biggest factors for this growth factor in virtual teams is profit, and firms that outsource can avail of lower costs and reduced wages. This may to some appear unethical, but creating sustainable economies in the third world has a counter effect in reducing world aid, which increases wealth, and less dependency on America and Western handouts.

Countries like the Philippines are to the United States sponges that absorb technology, and where every particle of these  networks are motivating microcosms capable of delivering to high standard codes in applications, communications and programs. Indeed the Philippines is a former American Economy, and the people are educated to a high standard to become graduates throughout their formation, and with training into the informative arena. English is spoken with an American accent and commerce in a new energy, fueled by the many American Companies offshoring and outsourcing.

One of those virtual team's CatchFriday works from 5pm - midnight (UK office time), 10pm to 5am (Eastern US time), to 1am to 9am (western US time), to 9am - 5pm (Filipino office time), with the result that they accomplish tasks that would be impossible within the 9-5 business model. Catch Friday is the brainchild of Danilo Del Campo, one of the young self-made yuppies of Filipino intellectual society, and president of Dolma Interactive Web Services Inc. Dan believes in investing in the workforce and run's CatchFriday with an eye on his staff offering them generous holiday allowances, and a good eco-friendly working environment. In this way a loyal virtual team has evolved with good talent, high moral and motivation.

Knowledge is a pooled resource and every team member is working in a dynamic group with a team leader and a VPA, Virtual Personal Assistant liaising with the employer. The speed at which the team communicates is the driving force behind how quickly you can make money. In general an order comes in through an enquiry generated from the web site, and is posted on an electronic communication board. The enquiry is normally dealt within in the first 48 hours, and a response by email is sent out to the client. CatchFriday works in a different way than other outsourcing customers and matches the requirements of the client who wants to recruit to a permanent position with at least five resumes/CVs, and arranges an interview for the client to select the key member of staff required.

At CatchFriday every employee has access to a PC, and unrestricted access to the Internet. There are inhouse coaches on hand to help people understand technology.

Lipnack and Stamps (2001) suggest that each virtual team should represent a combination of purpose,
links and time, by employing a basic seven-step process. The seven steps are:
1. Create identity
2. Draft mission
3. Determine milestones
4. Set goals
5. Identify members
6. Establish relationships
7. Choose media

CatchFriday has a diverse workforce handling different tasks from Autocad Operators to Web Development. From CPAs to American Tax Speccialists. From Telesales to Appointments. Indeed any job that can be done outside your office can be proposed to your VPA Virtual Personal Assistant at CatchFriday.com

Dan sees his virtual team as a dynamic process, involving everyone, that both trains and inducts, has a sense of fulfillment and has outside recreational facilities.



 


 

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