4. Strategie di problem solving in un gruppo di lavoro virtuale: analisi di un caso

Abstract

The diffusion of computer supported communication systems has recently contributedto redefine the context of social interaction. More specifically, withinthe working context, it has contributed to enhance new forms of participationas well it has highlighted the opportunity to further develop organizationalstrategies based on collaboration, on competence and objectives sharing in absenceand/or in partial presence of offline interactions (Cascio, Shurygailo,2003). Actually, within the last few decades, the many advantages supplied bythe web have allowed a fast widespread of virtual teams, physically distant butgreatly committed to common goals. Such evidence has supported the chanceto further enhance very original key competences in the workplace: the traditionalteamwork ability a new skill has been enriched by the ability to co-workwith colleagues physically distant (virtual teamwork ability). The aim of thepresent paper is to understand how a virtual team "works", which strategies are chosen to solve problems and to make decisions. To this purpose, the workingsessions of a virtual team have been taken into account. Content and discourseanalysis have been adopted to analyze the data.