Essay - Literature Review: Managing Professionals in Virtual Environment Abstract as Technology...

Literature Review: Managing Professionals in Virtual Environment

Abstract

As technology has evolved, the reality of virtual organizations has begun to take hold in a v*****riety of industries. It is now commonplace for employees ***** work, at least in part, from *****fsite. Telecommuting is a reality th***** has allowed companies to reduce costs, become more competitive, and facilitate happier more productive employees. ***** employees, or "telew*****k is one of *****e most radical departures from standard working conditions in the suite of flexible work practices ***** gaining widespread acceptance." (Daniels, Lamond, & Standen, 2001)

Literature *****: Managing Pr*****essionals in Virtual Environment

***** Summary:

As ***** has evolved, the reality of virtual organizations ***** begun ***** take ***** in a variety ***** industries. ***** ***** now commonplace for employees to *****, at least in part, from offsite. Telecommuting is a reality that has allowed companies to reduce *****, become more competitive, and facilitate happier more productive *****. ***** employees, or "telework is one of the most radical ***** from ***** working conditions in ***** suite of flexible work practices now ga*****ing ***** acceptance." (*****, Lamond, & Standen, 2001)

In addition, it ***** allowed employers assist their ***** in meeting that ever so delicate work-life balance. As Tronco (2001) notes, "an increasing number of companies are finding that, for some ***** ********** employees, ***** ***** home just makes sense." In 2000, Cascio noted, "Virtual workplaces, in which employees operate remotely from each other and from managers, ***** a reality, ***** will become even more common ***** the future."

Information Technology team members are *****icularly well *****d for virtual positions. ***** today allows IT professionals to remotely ***** users, at any hour of the day. Innovations such as web cams have even added a personal touch to remote IT staff. How*****, managing ***** employees requires new strategies, to ensure they are performing as effectively and efficiently ***** possible. Kirkman, Rosen, Gibson, Tesluk, & McPherson (2002) note the challenges virtual employees my face, especially as ***** of virtual teams. They identify "five challenges ***** organizations can expect to encounter in establish*****g, maintaining, ***** supporting ***** teams, e.g., building trust, cohesion, and team identity, and overcoming isolation among virtual ***** members." Watson-Manheim, Chudoba, ***** Crowston (2002) note that virtual work environments create "discontinuities (which) ***** gaps or a lack of coherence in aspects of w*****k."

The following literature review discusses previous research on ***** topic of virtual employees in the workforce, and was more narrowly def*****ed to the ***** of the challenges that are faced in managing these new workers. Surprisingly, there ***** no relevant research available dealing with the management of virtual IT pers*****nel specifically; yet, much of the research done on ***** ***** employees, in general, was ***** ***** IT ***** and informative.

*****ever, the lack of IT pr*****essi***** specific ***** clearly emphasizes an area where research is currently lacking.

***** Review:

***** (2001) discusses ***** challenges often ***** by ***** in ensuring ***** employees are functioning as productively as possible when working virtually. He