Managing Remote Teams - Lessons Learned Linkfest

For most of us, managing remote team members is one of the more challenging aspects of project management.  By reviewing the articles in this linkfest, you should be able to learn from the experiences of others and hopefully spare yourself some pain.  As before, I’ve attempted to include geographically diverse perspectives where possible.

This collection is targeted to you as a project manager who is leading one or more remote team members.  If you are working as a member of a virtual team, you can gain insight into how to make your remote supervisor’s life a little easier.  Developing this mindset will help your both immediate work experience and long-term career prospects.

Managing remote teams seems to be a hot topic in project management, as Bas de Baar, Mike Ramm, and Raven Young have all posted about it recently.

Common themes:

• Managing well remotely will require more effort on your part.
• Communication is key.  Find a way for everyone to match faces with names.
• Use technology appropriately.
• Be culture-wise.

Update!!!: October 29, 2008

1. Virtual-Team Management by Richard McLaughlin in Oh, The Places You’ll Go. France.

Start here.  This “lessons learned” post from Richard McLaughlin’s personal site contains gems from his experiences managing remote teams as a regional CIO for a major software company.  If you have only time to read one post, this is the one to start with.

First Principles

1. Cross-border projects, Challenges for the project manager, and Tackling the issues of cross-border projects.  by Elizabeth Harrin in Project Management 4 Girls. United Kingdom.

This is an excellent series on managing cross-cultural and international teams providing a good overview of the issues involved.

2. Leading In Face-to-Face Versus Virtual Teams by Surinder Kahai in Leading Virtually.  United States.

Focuses on the leadership aspects of virtual teams, with emphasis on telecommuting.

3. Managing from Afar: The Secrets of Running Remote Teams by Robert McGarvey in IT Career Planet. United States

Quick read emphasizing the value of persistence and a hands-off approach. For more on the value of a collaborative approach,  see Hey Project Manager! Beware of Fool’s Gold!

4. Managing Remote Teams in oDesk.  United States.

Some lessons learned from a software development group working with offshore teams.

5. Tips for successfully managing remote teams by Bill Detwiler in ITDojo/TechRepublic.  United States.

Light article highlighting some of the big issues for you to keep in mind.

Management Tips

1. 25 Rock Solid Tips to Supervise Offshore Development by Bas de Baar in Project Shrink. The Netherlands.

Start here for practical guidance on how to successfully lead a remote team.

2. Making Agile Offshore Teams Work and Making Offshore Design Work by Scott Sehlhorst in Tyner Blain. United States.

Valuable lessons learned. Much wisdom here.

3. Successfully Managing a Virtual Team by Catherine Roseberry in About.com. United States.

Bulletpoint list with good points on communication.

4. Managing Remote Teams: Keeping Everyone in the Loop Is a Big Challenge by Marcia Hakanson in HR Watch. United States.

This article can help you avoid some of the communication failures which bedevil too many remote teams.

5. Whiteboarding for Virtual Teams by Loyal in UCSC Extension in Santa Cruz. United States.

Some of the benefits of collaboration tools in managing a remote team.

Cultural Effectiveness

1. 23 Powerful Tips for Working in Multi-Cultural Teams by Bas de Baar in Project Shrink. The Netherlands.

These apply equally well to both co-located and remote teams.  You would do well to take a quick look to make sure your behavior and attitudes are in line with all of these points.

2. Managing Remote Teams in Latin America: Setting Goals and Meeting Deadlines by Graciela Kenig in LatPro. United States.

Excellent lessons learned from working with team members in Latin America.

Since many of you let me know that you enjoyed the Pleasing Stakeholders Linkfest, you can look forward to more Lessons Learned Linkfests to come.  If you have a topic you’d like to see covered, just send a note or add a comment below. Want to make someone happy today?  Visit one of the posts above and subscribe or add a comment.  Enjoy!

(Image by K-Free)

Tagged as: Bas de Baar, Bill Detwiler, Catherine Roseberry, collaboration tools, Communication, Elizabeth Harrin, Graciela Kenig, Latin America, linkfest, Management, management tips, Marcia Hakanson, Mike Ramm, offshore teams, Raven Young, Robert McGarvey, Santa Cruz, Scott Sehlhorst, software development group, Teams, telecommuting, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, Use technology, virtual team

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