It applied in businesses
...er in the text as a drawback).”It represents a technological advancement that allows people to send messages to one another at low cost, high speed, and high volume permitting intra and inter-organizational linkages” (Rice, 1980) 2) Conferencing: There are three basic forms of conferencing: a) Audio conferencing b) Data conferencing c) Video conferencing Conferencing is done among virtual teams. What is a virtual team? A virtual team, like every team, is a group of people who cooperate through interdependent tasks guided by common purpose. Unlike conventional teams, a virtual team works across space, time and organizational boundaries with links reinforced by webs of communication technologies. What sets virtual teams apart is that they routinely cross limitations such as geographic, time and sometimes cultural barriers such as language. They would therefore be able to correspond using online automatic translations. These teams have at their disposal a large array of interactive technologies at their disposal. “ A global virtual team is a group of geographically and temporarily dispersed individuals who are assembled via technology to accomplish an organizational task.” (Montoya-Weiss, Massey 2001) “Virtual work enables an organization to combine the best expertise at lower costs despite geographic separation. Virtual workgroups can use technologies ranging from telephones to specialized multimedia software products designed for a specific group task. Group members working virtually across time and space involve in collaborative activities such as problem definition, problem solving, knowledge acquisition, and knowledge transfer.” (Sakthivel, 2004) In fact, virtual group members should not only have the skills, expertise and high productivity in system development, but also need training in this field. d) Corporate Web Page: Each organization that wishes to expand on both local and international scopes assist their operations by designing a corporate Web page. This interface would be designed in such a way that it familiarizes the public with the main goods and/or services offered by the business. It also serves as a reference for stakeholders. In addition, it accepts feedback for customer service and further improvement III-Contexts of IT usage: 1) Conflict resolution Conflicts arise in large companies because of numerous factors such as geographical location, different perspectives, interest and personalities. Through IT, these conflicts can best be resolved within the organization with the help of these information systems that objectify the issues and leave less room for personal, face-to-face confrontation. This may lead to healthier communication and faster flow of information. As developed earlier, globalization has led companies to pursue businesses in different parts of the world. This geographical distance renders the transfer of information AND meetings virtually impossible without IT. Many tech tools are used to annul distance barriers as well as time lags. Other subsidiaries can access information needed during work hours that may not be available on the spot. As Jimmy Carter said, “we use the [computer] for E-mail and training, and also for a remarkable process: the resolution of conflict. “ “… we take all those complaints and do another round on the computers, and come up with various opinions on how the problems might be resolved.” 2) Negotiations: “Negotiation is an interpersonal decision making process by which 2 or more people make mutual decisions..[it is] a mixed-motive endeavor, such that negotiators are motivated to cooperate with one another to reach an agreement”(Thompson, Nadler, 2002). Old management models are: "if in doubt, go travel to sort it out". But this is highly inefficient in a growing global organization. Many corporations are at the limit of what they can manage without huge structural changes, unless they develop a different way of working altogether. Teams that can bridge the distance gap will win a clear competitive advantage - traveling less but with greater impact during each visit, backed up with regular videoconferencing, shared space technologies, chat, E-mail, telephone conference calls and other digital tools. It is wireless and can start as spontaneously as a telephone call. For upper-management negotiation purposes, CEO’s, managers, analysts and board of directors must be present simultaneously. If they were to be in the same location at the same time everytime a mutual decision is to be taken, it would be very costly for the company. Video conferencing is one of the most used technologies for negotiation. Every relevant person to the meeting can be sitting in his office and at the same time attending “virtually” the meeting taking place in the parent company. His suggestions are viewed and heard by the other party, thus leading to effective communication. However the advantage of this method over a face to face meeting would be the fact that “ the group image is uncontaminated by the physical presence of individuals who might deviate from the group… and as a result, group members engaged in e communication, feel greater identification with the group and have more positive impressions of one another (Thompson, Nadler, 2002). 3) Decision making: In order to accomplish organizational goals, managers need to make the best use of their scarce resources. In addition, they must motivate employees towards the achievement of these common objectives. IT has enhanced this process through various means. One of the most used is the corporate web page. This process enables the organization to scan employees worldwide. In addition it allows managers to identify their customers and better serve their target market. Focus groups would allow them to choose the appropriate alternative amongst products. “Decisions must be made faster and more rapidly communicated to those who need to know” (Forman, 2004). IV-Information technology future implication: As discussed earlier, virtual organizations are based on communication. The entities they are comprised of - individuals, committees, work groups, geographically dispersed companies or globally active enterprises – expect that distance and time zones do not delay work. The advantages provided by the more flexible form of virtual organizations should not be ruined by personal separation, lack of necessary processes, or technical systems, which are difficult to use. In the future, numerous pitfalls of Information Technologies applied to management may be encountered. Distrust may occur. First, the systems used are not always in compliance with the individual needs or expectations. This will lead them to try to avoid this system that failed to satisfy them. Information channeled through the Internet, Intranet or any other impersonal mean can lead to lack of trust. This impersonal characteristic of the information renders it less reliable and thus less used or put to work. On the other hand, demotivation may be one of the drawbacks of information technology. As said earlier, the impersonality of the communication mean will lead the human contact (known for its motivating attribute when used positively) to be reduced. Employees will feel some kind of loneliness and thus, it will affect their work performance. We explained earlier how information technology could be a reduction of time by minimizing travel, delay in usual postal services, etc… But this saving of time can be a waste of time. We are constantly being bombarded with junk E-mail that takes too much time filtering. In addition, employees may tend to drift in non-professional activities while on the job, such as chatting or browsing the web. This may constitute important loss of time and productivity incurred by the company. ...