Veronica struggles as a virtual worer

Assignment Help Operation Management

Reference no: EM131471590

CASE PROBLEM: VERONICA STRUGGLES AS A VIRTUAL WORER

Veronica, a toy-design specialist, has been assigned to a virtual team in a large toy company. Her group is re-sponsible for developing new ideas for toys with a high probability of success in an intensely competitive field. The virtual team includes representatives from several different regions of the United States, and one represen-tative from British Vancouver, Canada. The head of mer-chandising believes that people from different regions might have different slants on what type of toy would have the most appeal.Product development specialist Karl was at first re-luctant to have Veronica assigned to the team. In his words, “Veronica has always been kind of a lone wolf, making me wonder if she is suited for the high level of collaboration we need on our team.” When Karl con-fronted Veronica about this problem, she assured him that she did like to work independently but that she also enjoyed being part of a team.Two weeks after the team was formed, team member Bev sent all the members an e-mail attachment describing a battery-operated toy dragon whose eyes would flash while he walked. Bev received back generally favorable reactions from the other four members plus Karl within a few days. Seven days later, Veronica sent a text message to the group that stated, “Not a monster idea. Try again.”A week later, team member Sanjeet circulated an idea for a small toy fishing rod that came with a can of plas-tic slimy worms. Veronica called Sanjeet from her boy-friend’s phone, leaving the brief message, “My phone and computer are down. I will get back to you on your mundane idea later.”Sensing that perhaps Veronica was not contributing as much to the team as she could, Karl sent her a text mes-sage asking her how she was enjoying being a member of the design team. Veronica sent back a text message to Karl three days later that said, “A virtual team is only as good as its weakest link. And I’ve found a few weak links.”

Case Questions

1. How do you recommend Karl, and perhaps the other team members, deal with Veronica to make her a more cooperative team member?

2. What do you recommend that Veronica say to Karl about enjoying being a member of the virtual toy-design team?

3. What does this case illustrate about the possible problems within a virtual team?

Reference no: EM131471590

Questions Cloud

Management information or decision support systems : Briefly describe how management information or decision support systems can assist you when analysing information and identifying trends and patterns?

Arrested for grand larceny : Sharon calls us to tell us she has been arrested for grand larceny. She is accused of stealing $5,000 worth of merchandise from a lingerie store at the mall.

Estimate the steady-state capital stock for each year : Estimate the steady-state capital stock for each year. Compare your prediction to the actual real GDP data. Were you correct?

What are the basic forms of power : What are the basic forms of power and how can they help me achieve my desired outcomes?

Veronica struggles as a virtual worer : Veronica, toy-design specialist, has been assigned to virtual team in large toy company. What does case illustrate about possible problems within a virtual team

Did the statute of frauds prevent enforcement of agreement : Newell and Carol Simons owned a house with 60 acres plus an interest with DeLila and Joel Simons in 1,500 to 1,800 acres of farmland.

Discuss about case-r williams construction co v oshrc : Select TWO court cases (from different chapters) from the list below, and respond in writing to the case questions.

Prosecutor has moved to admit the money into evidence : Albert is now on trial for robbery, and the prosecutor has moved to admit the money into evidence.

What events in the early twentieth century set the stage : What events in the early twentieth century set the stage for the major change in government regulation of labor-management relations.

User Account

All Pages