Designing, Implementing and Leading Virtual Teams in an Organisation
(Prof. Damiano Petrolo)
Teaching Members Responsible for the Course
Prof. Damiano Petrolo
E-mail: damiano.petrolo@uniroma2.it
Availability: Contact via e-mail
The course aims to be a valuable learning experience for you. Your feedback is welcome at any time in the semester. You can easily reach me by e-mail, and I will be glad to set up an appointment. Additionally, if you have a disability that requires special accommodation, please let me know ASAP to be helpful to you.
E-mails, Office Hours & Feedback on Assignments
I endeavour to answer e-mails within one day. If you have not heard from me within that time, please resend the e-mail. Grades and comments will be posted online on the materials section of the course website. I will be happy to give feedback and discuss assignments after grading is complete for a specific assignment. Office hours are scheduled by e-mail request.
The Designing, Implementing and Leading Virtual Teams in an Organisation course is included in the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration & Economics.
Prerequisites for the course
None
Course description and learning objectives
The course covers designing, implementing, and leading virtual teams from both a macro and a micro perspective. Individuals influence team dynamics, particularly when these teams are virtual. Besides, teams often belong to a larger organisation to which they are accountable in terms of behaviour and expected results. It is therefore important to constantly align these expectations and consider the complications of the virtual. Understanding both the macro and micro perspectives and how these two interrelations are essential for understanding virtual teams and their effective design and implementation.
The course's objective is twofold: first, to make the student understand how to design, implement and lead virtual teams in an organisation. Second, to introduce the basic concepts of leadership and teamwork.
Lectures are characterised by the transfer of knowledge and the strong interaction within the classroom; analyses of situations, problems, and role-playing facilitate learning participants.
Regular attending students are strongly recommended to participate in all the lectures and all the role-playing preparations and presentations.
The course uses readings, lectures, individual and team assignments, and class discussions to meet its goals. Because each of you brings unique perspectives and experiences to the class, participation in class discussions and activities is essential to your learning and other class members.
Required Textbook, Readings, and Business Cases
Textbook:
1. Eikenberry, K., & Turmel, W. (2018). The Long-Distance Leader: Rules for Remarkable Remote Leadership . Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
Readings:
2. The Virtual Manager Collection. U.S., Harvard Business Review Press, 2016.
3. Zander, L., Mockaitis, A. I., & Butler, C. L. (2012). Leading global teams. Journal of World Business, 47(4), 592-603.
Slides and other material will be available under the course web site.
THE SLIDES DO NOT REPRESENT A SUPPORT FOR AN EFFECTIVE AND SUCCESSFUL PREPARATION TO THE EXAM OF THE COURSE. THEY REPRESENT ONLY A HELP TO FACILITATE THE TRANSFER OF THE KNOWLEDGE TO STUDENTS DURING THE LECTURES.
Because of the concentrated nature of the BAE program, attendance in class is crucial.
NOTE : Attendance to the first-class session is strongly suggested. Important information about the course will be shared during the first session, as well as reciprocal expectations. If you know that you will have to be absent for one session, please contact your instructor to ensure that absence from a particular session is acceptable.
Students are advised to check the course's correct scheduling on the website and register themselves in the course newsletter to access all the related communications.
The Exam is oral, and it includes some questions directly connected to the course textbooks and the readings. You may be asked to discuss the models and the theories presented during the course. You will be asked to interpret some real incidents and focus your attention on some specific theoretical issues.
Only students who have booked the Exam on the DELPHI System will be allowed to register their grades.
The 1ST Exam after the course
The 1st Exam after the course after the course has two modes.
1. Regular attending Students: Writing an essay on the dynamics that characterised your experiences in the teams you participated in. The presentation of a team project supplements this essay.
2. Non-attending Students: The exam will be oral and will concern questions directly connected to the course textbooks. You may be asked to discuss the models and the theories presented during the course. You will be asked to interpret some real incidents and focus your attention on some specific theoretical issues.