PEOPLE PUZZLES

    Goal for this Session 

Technology Bridges Time and Geography Technology now makes it possible for groups that are geographically distributed to work and learn together. This presentation will demonstrate how three different groups used technology to meet their desired goals.  It will also look at what worked or didn’t work for these groups and the lessons that resulted.

Objectives

• To demonstrate the use of web technology to work with geographically distributed groups
• To demonstrate how the group dynamic changes via the web
• To provide specific examples with teams working regionally, nationally
• To demonstrate how these tools can be used for learning
• To provide insights into how different personalities react and adapt to different communication media

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Session Overview

Three Groups – Different Needs, Different Tools, Different Results

Group 1:  This group was made up of different regional organizations that worked together using a groupware tool to provide a common workspace for collaboration and dialogue.  Challenges included access, security, costs, ease of use and interactivity.

Group 2:  This professional group used web tools to provide its member across the province with a site where they could share resources, seek advice and use the internet to provide online education.  Challenges related to the voluntary nature of the group and its limited resources.

Group 3:  This group  is a national organization whose members are widely scattered and who also require ongoing continuing education to remain current in their profession. They used several web tools to work together, provide education and communicate with the broader professional community.

Learning from Experience and Example

Tools used by these groups were demonstrated for participants noting the advantages and disadvantages with each example.   Tools included groupware,  web sites (public and private) and online newsletters.  The role of Application Service Providers was also discussed.

Lessons Learned

Teamwork and leadership are the key ingredients for success.  Technology is an enabling tool but it is not in itself the solution.  Virtual teams require leadership and the essential elements of teamwork to function effectively in cyberspace.  People respond to the use of technology in different ways.  Helping people adapt to the change in the way that the work is done, requires a culture shift that must be supported and rewarded by the sponsoring organizations.  Sustaining momentum in the short term or over a longer timeframe presents different challenges and requires different resources.

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  Presentation Slides

Slides are in Adobe (.pdf) format. If you do not have the Acrobat viewer, click below to download it free.

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   Virtual Tour of Example Sites

• Public sites
  • Regional Example - INFOlink (Available until Dec. 16, 2001)
  • Provincial Example - Ont. Health Care Education Association (OHCEA) ((Available until Dec. 16, 2001
  • National Example - APT Canada

   

• Examples of Web Tool / Groupware Sites
  • Web Tools & Groupware
  • Post Conference Demonstration Site (Available until Dec. 16, 2001)

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   Perspectives of People Related to Technology

• Additional Information
  • Characteristics of Effective Teams
  • Personal Perspectives on working with Technology
  • About the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
  • Survey summary of team reactions to technology

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