Teamwork at its Finest?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704007804574574161967309526.html


In the article above it explains how teamwork overseas is the key to success.  You can read the article for yourself and notice the 3 main categories they talk about : Black boxing, communication, and common ground.




Black Boxing - the minimization of employee's from different locations communication
Easing Communication - make it easier for telephone and emails to be used
Common Ground - employee's off shore can expect actions and decisions of employee's onshore through common knowledge.


In the main point in this article is that communication between offshore and onshore employees needs to be improved. Many companies try to separate them but we learned in chapter 8 that communication is the key to business success. Take for example a company that makes computers. The onshore employees make the computers and the offshore employees handle customer service. The offshore employees know what customers call and complain about. If they would communicate with the onshore employees, then the computers would be able to improve and have less calls to the offshore employees.


The one thing to remember is to that different cultures have different meanings for things and employees have to be self conscious. Also note that video conferencing, face-to-face, and telephone are highly ways of information richness.


Now your turn. In what ways do you think would be effective in having onshore and offshore employee's collaborate efficiently? This could range from weekly video conferencing, to written reports. Please comment below.

-Matt Blachowicz