Question

Write a 200- to 350-word summary of the following:

In a virtual meeting, how can you ensure a group is communicating effectively?

How can you ensure that each team member understands what next steps are required to achieve the meeting's goals?

What are the characteristics of effective teams?

How do roles, needs, and diversity affect teamwork? Provide specific examples.

What are components of group diversity?

Answer 1

Virtual meeting refers to the meeting that is conducted on a real-time basis where the interaction among the participants take place over the internet by integrating audio, video, chat tools and application sharing.

It is very important to conduct an effective virtual meeting in order to provide benefits to everyone. This can be done by

• ·         An owner must be selected for meeting to keep track of update
• ·         Weekly/daily reminders can be shared with team members to revert to the update on assigned points
• ·         Minutes of a meeting should be captured and shared with the team to know the points discussed in the meeting
• ·         The timeline and responsibility must be allocated to each point and communicated to a concerned person
• ·         Project charter must be shared with all team members: It will help to understand dependency amongst task

Characteristics of effective teams:

·         Clear communication on goals and target with the timeline

·         Clear assignment of roles and responsibilities amongst members

·         Culture of open discussion and freedom of expression

·         Constructive feedback mechanism

·         Comfortable and relaxed environment without excess pressure

·         Performance tracking on timely basis and alignment

·         Consensus-based decision making

·         Harmonizing culture with cohesion and coordination

A role defines certain duties to a person based on which he is accounted for and judged on. Based on the skills, attitude and experience of the person, his/her role in the team can be assumed. Sometimes, it is the leader who assigns roles to his/her team members and sometimes, the team member comes forward to choose a specific role. Examples of roles include manager, technical architect, functional architect etc.

Needs are the necessities specific to the individual. While roles clearly defined on the part the individual plays in the team, need is a specific wanting the individual expects to fulfil. Examples of needs include leading the team, providing creative ideas to the project which get accepted, managing documentation of the project etc.

Components of group diversity include -

1. Age

2. Gender

3. Religious and political beliefs

4. Cultures and traditions

5. Work experience

6. Skills etc.