Leading Dispersed Teams

Act Global, Think Local

Although quite different in makeup and operation, dispersed teams and local teams share some important characteristics. All successful teams need to be well designed. That includes defining the purpose of the team, building in project management expertise, defining team member roles, and setting a clear direction toward completing assigned work. Perhaps most important, there must be clear and measurable goals and objectives that are understood by all members. To be effective, both kinds of teams have to coordinate and interweave a series of complex tasks.

The importance of team composition is another shared characteristic. ...