Virtual Teams: Communication Strategies

• Virtual teams consist of geographically dispersed members who use technology for communication and collaboration
• Dispersion in virtual teams leads to specialized members with unique skills
• Virtual teams may face communication challenges due to lack of face-to-face interaction

Synchronous Communication

• Involves real-time interaction, similar to traditional meetings
• Crucial for immediate feedback and decision-making
• Examples include live video conferences, instant messaging, and shared online workspaces

Asynchronous Communication

• Enables team members to contribute at their own pace
• Accommodates different schedules and time zones
• Suited for tasks that don't need immediate collaboration
• Examples include email, discussion boards, and shared document repositories

Electronic Communication Tools

• Facilitate information exchange (verbal and written) and file sharing
• Examples include MS Outlook (email), Blogger (blogging), and Wikipedia (collaborative knowledge base)

Electronic Conferencing Tools

• Support interactive communication for information sharing and discussions
• Examples include Zoom, Google Meet, and WebEx (video conferencing platforms)

Collaboration Management Tools

• Organize and manage group activities, including meetings, project tracking, and document collaboration
• Examples include Google Docs (shared documents) and MS SharePoint (project management)

Web 1.0

• Features static content where users consumed information
• Utilizes a one-way communication model with limited interaction

Web 2.0

• Displays interactive content where users create and share information
• Emphasizes social interaction, collaboration, and user-generated content

Web 3.0

• Focuses on personalized web experience via semantic data, AI, and decentralized tech
• Provides contextual relevance and enhances user mobility

The Semantic Web

• Aims to make web content understandable to machines using metadata
• Enables computers to process and integrate data effectively
• Leads to more relevant search results and improved data interoperability

Social Media's Impact

• Social media has altered workplace communication and collaboration
• Orgs should integrate it into comms, recruitment, and employee engagement

Cloud-Based Tools

• Benefits: accessibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness
• Risks: data security, privacy, and internet dependency

Organizational Use of Social Media

• Types: blogs, microblogs (Twitter), and vlogs (YouTube)
• Issues: Negative reviews and viral incidents
• Managing Risks: Establish crisis teams, contingency plans, monitor social media, and quick responses
• Critical factors: Social media use must be unexpected, emotional, shareable, and user inclusive

Intranet

• A private network within an organization used for internal communication and information sharing

Employee Portal

• A centralized online platform for HR services and information

Business Analytics

• Analyzes historical data for insights that inform decision-making

Business Intelligence

• Data helps strategy
• Uses historical and current data to understand past performance and support strategic decision-making

Decision Support Systems

• Analyzes structured data to help decision-makers evaluate options

Advanced Analytics

• Predicts future outcomes and identifies hidden data patterns

Data Science

• Uses scientific methods to extract knowledge and insights from data

Data Mining

• Uses algorithms to find patterns and relationships in large datasets

Text Mining

• Extracts useful information from textual data sources

Web-Content Mining

• Extracts information from web documents

Artificial Intelligence

• Simulates human intelligence in machines

Machine Learning

• Develops algorithms that enable systems to learn from data

Neural Networks

• Uses pattern recognition to make predictions

Business Analytics Success

• Relies on accurate data, a workforce adept at BA tools, and a commitment to action on gained insights

Data Visualization

• Uses graphical representations to make data easier to understand
• Dashboards summarize key metrics

Big Data

• High volume, variety, and velocity
• Requires specialized tools for analysis

Databases

• An organized collection of data stored electronically
• Queries retrieve specific data

Relational Database

• Organizes data into tables with defined relationships
• Primary keys uniquely identify records
• Foreign keys link tables

DBMS

• Database Management System
• Software used to create, manage, and manipulate databases

ETL

• Extract, Transform, Load
• Moves data from operational systems into a data warehouse

Data Warehousing

• Integrates data from various sources for analysis and reporting

Data-Driven Decision Making

• Basing decisions on hard data

Core Business Processes

• Functional areas: marketing, sales, supply chain, manufacturing, finance, and HR
• Key processes: order-to-cash, procure-to-pay, and made-to-stock/made-to-order

Standalone Application

• Isolated system which leads to data silos

Enterprise Systems

• An integrated system

Packaged Software

• Off-the-shelf solutions that can be vanilla or customized
• Custom software is developed for specific needs

ERP Systems

• Integrates various business functions into a single system
• Improves data flow and decision-making
• Controls ensure compliance
• Includes financial, HR, and supply chain modules
• Implementation requires careful configuration
• Limitations include cost and complexity
• Keys to success include strong leadership and user training

Business Process Management

• A strategic approach to improving organizational efficiency through process redesign