Distant unity : Technologies that help improve collaboration

Purpose – This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings – Shrewd companies have always acknowledged the value of teamwork. And in today's fiercely competitive business world, a willingness to collaborate has become even more important. Traditional notions of teamwork involve a group of people working together in the same space, sharing the same language, values and backgrounds. Thanks to technology, it does not always have to be that way now. Virtual collaboration has become all the rage and an increasing number of organizations are allocating projects to teams staffed with geographically‐dispersed members who speak, think and act differently from each other. A sure‐fire recipe for chaos and disaster, then? Not necessarily. Indeed, those able to overcome the many barriers inherent to this way of working have produced some pretty impressive results that conventional teams would struggle to match. Social implications – Shrewd companies have always acknowledged the value of teamwork. And in today's fiercely competitive business world, a willingness to collaborate has become even more important Orignality/value – The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.