Environmental Engineering Reference
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skills are not found in-house and local networks must tap external resources. Between
the need for non-local resources and cost containment issues this causes organizations
to go global where unique or specific skills are less costly (Crossman & Lee-Kelley,
2004)(Rowley & Jackson, 2009)(Howells, 1999) (Watkins, 1995).
2.
Focus Shift from Time to Results . Managers are needing to focus more on results
rather than time.This is aligned with themanagement by objective approach when time
and competency matters little if results are not adequately evaluated and or determined
as satisfactory (Shillabeer, Buss, & Rousseau, 2011). Further, managers need to be
results-oriented instead of task or time-oriented (Amigoni & Gurvis, 2009).
3.
Mobile and Global . As stakeholders and organizations become more mobile so too will
the local and global networks. As these networks become more mobile so does the
demand for more mobile technologies or those technologies that can eliminate natural
and real barriers of geography, time zones and simultaneous communications
(anytime/anywhere). These global and mobile teams or networks are viewed as
complex for work and management (Ruohomaki, 2010). Once these elements or factors
have the proper evaluation of tools and practices implemented the groundwork for
accepting and cultivating virtual partnerships in virtual workspaces is laid (Vartiainen
& Hyrkkänen, 2010)(Ruohomaki, 2010).
2.3 A virtual working space
Virtual world technologies provide computer-mediated three-dimensional (3D) interactive
environments through which end users control one or more avatars (computer-generated
proxies) in a persistent-state. Unlike other computer-mediated entertainment or simulation
environments, virtual worlds typically retain a strongly temporal character where there is a
persistent record of interaction from session to session. With respect to business processes,
virtual workspaces utilize virtual world technologies to provide business users with a
collaborative and immersion environment designed to better enable core business processes
over a specified period of time (Cherbakov, Brunner, Lu, & Smart, 2009).
Virtual workspaces typically provide workers with, “a complete online
communication/collaboration package that allows workgroups to share files and applications,
use an online whiteboard, and communicate via chat or instant messaging”(Toolbox for IT,
2007). A virtual workspace is a workplace that is not located in any one physical space. That is,
virtual workspaces consist of several workplaces that are technologically connected (typically
via the Internet) without any regard for specific geographic boundaries. Workers are able to
work and communicate interactively with one another in a collaborative environment
regardless of their actual geographical location. There are a variety of advantages related tot he
use of virtual workspaces for businesses and education.
For example, some advantages of implementing virtual workspaces are:
Affecting a decrease in unnecessary costs by integrating technology processes, people
processes, and online processes.
Enabling employees to work from anyplace at any time supporting both the needs of
the employees and an ever increasing global customer-base.
Streamlining systems from multiple facets of work into a single unified unit easily
accessible by both the consumer and the employee.
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