Virtual Team Building, Does it Work?

Fully customizable virtual simulations are transforming the team building landscape, breaking down barriers and making it possible for teams at different locations to participate in engaging and interactive experiences. But, are cool animations and eye-popping graphics are enough to produce effective team building?

Photo by Torley via Flickr

As soon as you receive your brief case and Mission Access Code, your team logs into the Spy Inc. headquarters website from any computer in the world. This activates the clock. You have 3 hours to complete your mission. Your mission briefing consists of a dossier with your scenario, objectives, advice, and clues. You’re given the coordinates for the location in your city where you’ll rendez-vous with the other agents in your spy network to obtain more clues to help you complete your mission. Your performance is measured by time, the other performance of the other teams, and the track record of previous agents. As soon as you complete your mission, you log off with your correct solution codes. Your time is calculated and presented on the Cyber League Table. Results are compared and debriefed. Debriefing focuses on problem-solving, planning, team management, and delegation.

Demo: Spy Inc. Demo

UK based Clever Zebra, a virtual worlds events company, recently designed a 3D immersive meeting in Second Life for a global consulting firm’s 3 day IT leadership conference. Team building exercises incorporated 3D puzzle building, dancing competitions, and treasure hunts.

Benefits of Virtual Team Building

Some of the benefits of virtual team building include:
- virtual simulations can easily be customized with company logos, products and services
- the same experience can be replicated to enhance learning and provide opportunities for review and practice
- virtual simulations can be completed in a relatively short period of time, reducing the amount of time team member are off the job
a full team building cycle including context setting, simulation, debriefing, and business application exercises can be comfortably in half a day without analytical learners feeling pressured or rushed
- companies can bring international teams together and save travel, meal and hotel expenses

Examples of Virtual Worlds for Team Building

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Corporate Team Building: Getting the Name Right

This post is by Anne Thornley-Brown, President, Executive Oasis International, team building and incentive travel specialists. Meet the rest of the team!

The economic meltdown is giving our industry and its clients an opportunity to clear up confusion and return to a bottom line oriented approach to team building.

Photo by Executive Oasis International

In the coming weeks and months, we will be examining team building from various angles. Before we embark on this exploration, let’s pin down some definitions.

Question: What do these headlines have in common?

Northumberland council criticized over team building courses (from the Journal, July 24, 2009)

“Thousands of staff working for Northumberland’s new super-council are being sent to special team bonding workshops – at which they are asked to say what animal they most closely resemble.

Part of the session involves participants being asked to tell other group members what animal they would describe themselves as given their personal characteristics. Some employees have been less than impressed by the initiative, which is being held at a time when the council has axed hundreds of posts and is facing major efficiency savings to balance its budget.”

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