Memo and PPT

Project: Implementing Virtual Teams

Project 4 Final Deliverable: Team Narrated Presentation

Your CEO has tasked your team to write a memo and a narrated PowerPoint presentation on implementing virtual, multicultural, geographically distributed teams in Apple Inc. This report will be presented to the board of directors, and your team needs to work together to produce the report quickly and efficiently. The memo should be between five- to seven-pages, and your team’s presentation should span 12 to 15 slides (excluding introduction and reference slides), include a 25- to 30-minute narration. The notes for each slide must be included in the space below the slide to which the notes refer, with proper APA citations as appropriate (on the slide and in the notes). A reference list in APA format is required.  

Your team is expected to identify necessary facts about Apple Inc. for the project and to integrate relevant MBA concepts and course materials with those facts.

The presentation should research and make recommendations about the following:

· team type (combination of Virtual and Global teams)

· team principles and guidelines

· team size (10)

· team composition

· team roles

· team leadership model

· team management

· assessments for managing team dynamics

· managing culturally derived orientations and preferences

· team training

· technology solutions for virtual teams

· advantages and challenges of working in virtual teams

· cost benefit analysis of virtual teams vs. cross-site travel alternative

Keep in mind that all recommendations should address the following issues:

· efficiency

· seamlessness

· cost-effectiveness

As your CEO emphasized, the culture of your organization is data-driven and data-based, so all your claims, recommendations, and arguments should be supported by data and evidence. 

Begin your presentation by going to Step 1: Meet Teammates and Select an Organization.

When you submit your project, your work will be evaluated using the competencies listed below. You can use the list below to self-check your work before submission.

· 1.3: Provide sufficient, correctly cited support that substantiates the writer’s ideas.

· 1.4: Tailor communications to the audience.

· 1.5: Use sentence structure appropriate to the task, message and audience.

· 1.7: Create neat and professional looking documents appropriate for the project or presentation.

· 1.8: Create clear oral messages.

· 2.1: Identify and clearly explain the issue, question, or problem under critical consideration.

· 2.2: Locate and access sufficient information to investigate the issue or problem.

· 2.3: Evaluate  the information in a logical and organized manner to determine its value and relevance to the problem.

· 2.4: Consider and analyze information in context to the issue or problem.

· 2.5: Develop well-reasoned ideas, conclusions or decisions, checking them against relevant criteria and benchmarks.

· 4.1: Lead and/or participate in a diverse group to accomplish projects and assignments.

· 4.2: Demonstrate the ability to plan and execute a project, articulating clear objectives and goals for the team.

· 4.3: Contribute to team projects, assignments, or organizational goals as an engaged member of a team.

· 4.4: Demonstrate diversity and inclusiveness in a team setting.

· 5.1: Develop constructive resolutions for ethical dilemmas based on application of ethical theories, principles and models.

· 5.2: Assess the implications of legal, ethical and cultural (national) standards on an organization's operations in global markets and make recommendations for appropriate actions.

· 5.4: Resolve workplace conflicts using the optimal approaches and techniques for the situation and involved parties.

· 8.2: Analyze an organization's current technology capabilities and needs, identifying specific strengths and areas of weakness.

· 9.1: Design organizational structure, systems and processes that support the strategic goals of the organization.

· 11.1: Recommend strategic plan for the use of technology to meet the strategic goals of organization.

· 13.1: Identify and analyze new opportunities.

· 13.2: Create and implement new initiative or enterprise.

Step 1: Select an Organization (My organization is Apple Inc.)

Review the following resources:

Description of the final deliverable:

· Create a 12 to 15 slides (excluding introduction and reference slides), include a 25- to 30-minute narration. The notes for each slide must be included in the space below the slide to which the notes refer, with proper APA citations as appropriate (on the slide and in the notes). A reference list in APA format is required.  

· Write a five- to seven-page memo to the CEO that highlights the main points of your

· Select an organization to work with (Apple Inc).

Your team is expected to identify necessary facts about Apple Inc. for the project and to integrate relevant MBA concepts and course materials with those facts. Throughout the project, your team should demonstrate a deep understanding of both your organization and the MBA concepts and course materials.

When you have completed this step, proceed to Step 2, where you will work on a team agreement, project work plan, and team member grid.

Step 2: Complete Team Agreement, Project Work Plan, and Team Member Grid

Student information. Skip to Step 4

Next, proceed to Step 3, where you will investigate team types and team principles.

Step 3: Select Team Type and Create Team Principles or Guidelines

The next step is to select from the types of teams( the prof. approved the combination of Virtual and Global teams) (see course resources- )  the one that makes the most sense, given the mission and goals of your organization. After picking the team type, create a set of general team principles or guidelines (see course resources) that should be useful for a virtual team. Provide a rationale for both decisions.

Next, continue to Step 4, where you will consider the challenges and solutions to the recommendations you made in Step 3.

Step 4: Analyze Challenges, Solutions, and Recommendations

Once you have made recommendations about team types and objectives, it's time to think through challenges and solutions to those recommendations. With your teammates, consider the following factors:

· Given your recommendations in Step 3, identify and analyze challenges that are likely to arise in coordinating the work of these geographically dispersed teams (in Paris, Tokyo, Honolulu, and on the East Coast of the United States).

· Analyze the available options for ensuring successful operations in light of these challenges.

· Determine whether using a follow-the-sun (see resources)model makes sense for the team's tasks and objectives or whether there is a more appropriate way of managing the team's project work.

· Based on your analysis, develop, propose, and defend a recommendation about how to organize and manage workflow to leverage the capacity of teams located in multiple time zones.

When you have finished this step, proceed to Step 5 to make recommendations about team composition.

 Step 5: Make Recommendations for Team Composition

It's time to start looking at the teams themselves and thinking about how they should be composed. Keep the following preferences in mind as you make recommendations about team composition:

· Recommend ideal team size, team composition, and team roles, based on your organization's needs. (see resources

· Analyze options for handling team leadership.

· Identify the team leadership model best suited for your organization and provide a rationale for your explanation.

Next, proceed to Step 6, where you will review team member personality assessments.

Step 6: Review Team Member Personality Assessments

After your team has decided on team composition, the next step is to learn how personality assessments coupled with follow-up training and development (including coaching and mentoring) can enable successful teams.

Discuss with your team how various combinations of personalities might affect team development or team dynamics (see resources)

· Identify team assessments the team should take.

· Explain why and how these assessments will help team members do the following:

· manage disagreements

· limit harmful conflict

· build swift trust

· prevent free ridership

· make timely decisions

· complete assigned work

· qualify as a high-performing team

Consider the possible steps your client organization might take to limit challenges associated with likely personality differences and other differences among team members.

When you have finished this step, proceed to Step 7, where you will consider cultural differences across countries.

Step 7: Address Country Cultural Differences

The next challenge to tackle is cultural differences. As a result of this merger, many members of your virtual teams will be French, Japanese, and American, and you will need to make suggestions about how to navigate cultural differences and preferences among team members of these nationalities. This resource on country cultural differences (see resources)provides guidance about how to proceed with this important component of your team project.

After reading the resources on country cultural differences, complete the following tasks:

· Identify potential sources of concern about having company operations in different locations around the world.

· Make and defend recommendations about the optimal approach to prepare for cultural differences and preferences among team members.

Next, continue to Step 8, where you will research group decision-making processes.

Step 8: Research Group Decision-Making Processes

You have probably come to realize since you started working on this project the importance of having good mechanisms in place to make decisions as a group. Research and compile a list of specific resources for brainstorming and other decision-making processes.

When you have finished this step, proceed to Step 9, where you will identify training and technology needs.

Step 9: Identify Training and Technology Needs

After reading up on how to make decisions as a group, your next step will be to identify training opportunities. To identify those opportunities, complete the following tasks:

· Identify optimal information and communication technology (ICT) (team communication) to facilitate communication, collaboration, and decision making.

· Identify necessary training for virtual teams and consider the pros and cons of the CEO's preference to conduct the team training online rather than with a preliminary face-to-face meeting.

· Include a cost-benefit analysis that helps the CEO understand the pros and cons of her preference for virtual teams. Refer to the Michel and Oliverio (2007) article in cost-benefit analysis.

Next, continue Step 10, where you will prepare recommendations for team management.

Step 10: Prepare Recommendations for Team Management

Finally, after completing all previous steps, you should have some recommendations for team management, one of the most important elements of any work team. To this end, complete the following tasks:

· Identify and analyze the options for managing these geographically dispersed multinational and multicultural virtual teams.

· Prepare recommendations that will help the CEO make the best decision about how to manage this teams.

After completing this step, proceed to Step 11, where you will consider other advantages and challenges your organization may face.

Step 11: Identify Other Advantages and Challenges

You're nearly done with this project, but after surveying your results, you and your teammates agree that you have to address one last issue. Though cost is important, it shouldn't be the only determining factor in the decision to implement virtual teams.

Identify other advantages and challenges the organization is likely to confront when making this strategic change to virtual, cross-site, global teams.

Next, proceed to Step 12, which gives instructions for submitting your final team PowerPoint presentation.