Virtual Organizations Discussion and Reply to Edward and Quentins Discussion

ANSWER:

Describe the evolution of the virtual organization. What are the pros  and cons associated with this design? Provide examples of three  technological devices/concepts that have had the greatest impact on  virtual organizations. Respond to at least two of your peers for this  posting. 

 Baack, D. (2017). Organizational behavior (2nd ed.). [Electronic version]. Retrieved from https://ashford.content.edu 

Films Media Group (2008). Balance in life and work (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. [Video clip]. In 9 to 5 No Longer. Retrieved from

https://secure.films.com/OnDemandEmbed.aspx?token=40875&aid=18596&loid=66935&plt=FOD&w=420&h=315&ref

EDWARDS DISCUSSION:

Edward Smith        

Monday Nov 6 at 5:09am            

The  virtual organization has become more popular in the customer service and  tech support field as well as management. The majority of the time when  you call a phone, cable, or tech support company for your apple device,  you are speaking with a customer service agent that is working from  home on their computer on a secure company network. Ahuja and Carley  (1998) define a virtual organization as a geographically distributed  organization whose members are bound by a long-term common interest or  goal, and who communicate and coordinate their work through information  technology. I currently started working for world travel holdings as  travel sales agent last week and we speak and collaborate with the  trainer, colleagues, and other people in tech support and human  resources through video chat using a headset and by phone.

Three technological devices that have the greatest impact on virtual  organizations is high speed internet, videoconferencing, and computers.  Having high speed internet allows phone agents to bring up a customer  and company database to deliver excellent service. Videoconferencing is  also used with high internet speed, it allows workers who are in 2  different locations to communicate with each other by use of a web cam  and headset. When a coach needs to give a customer agent feedback on a  previous call, they will use a web camera, which allows the coach or  supervisor to pick up on any important nonverbal cues a staff member may  give. Without the computer, colleagues will not be able to work,  because you need more than just a landline phone and some companies will  even give you a company computer to work on.

References

Ahuja, M. K., & Carley, K. M. (1998). Network structure in virtual organizations. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 3(4). Retrievedfrom http://jcmc.indiana.edu/vol3/issue4/ahuja.html (Links to an external site.)

QUENTINS DISCUSSION :

Quentin Gunter        

Monday Nov 6 at 3:08pm            

In  addition to a general organization, there is another type known as the  virtual organization. “Ahuja and Carley (1998) define a virtual  organization as a geographically distributed organization whose members  are bound by a long-term common interest or goal, and who communicate  and coordinate their work through information technology” (Baack, 2017,  p. 10.2). This type of organization can be considered an organization  without walls. They have a small workforce, and outsource most  production and other aspects of business. Their makeup of management  style is centralization, which entails higher level managers making the  business decisions.

Some of the pros are that included in the virtual organization are  lower overhead costs (less insurance for employees), adaptable and  flexible, high use of information technology, resources are used  effectively, and governmental administration is at a low. Cons include a  lack of social interactions among people (especially in this world we  live, social skills at a minimum); the credibility of the company can be  at stake as people will wonder how ‘real’ the company is; and security  issues over the internet (just like recent breaches that have been  shared in the news lately).

Three technological devices/concepts that have had the greatest  impact on virtual organizations are social media, cell phone, and  conference call/videoconference options. Social media has allowed  companies new ways to interact and promote their services and goods. The  cell phone has allowed for increased productivity during and after work  hours. Videoconferences/teleconferences have provided ways for people  all over the world to meet simultaneously and conduct business  functions.