Global Virtual Teams is an increasingly common way of working, with its own unique challenges. This course will help you understand and navigate these, strengthen your global skills and prepare you to succeed in a global landscape of virtual teamwork.
Course memo Autumn 2023
Course presentation
Headings denoted with an asterisk ( * ) is retrieved from the course syllabus version Autumn 2023
Content and learning outcomes
Course contents
The course explores, and lets participants discuss their own experiences of, key areas for social interaction in global virtual team environments, for example teambuilding, negotiation of roles and deadlines, asynchronous and synchronous communication, navigation in different time zones and legal standards, feedback and criticism, and use and consequences of technology in and for team communication.
Theories and models are introduced to help students better understand common sources of, and discuss possible solutions to, problems in virtual international team environments, with a focus on communication as an aspect of global competence and technological tools for teamwork.
Group work
Intended learning outcomes
The overall aim of the course is to strengthen the global skills needed for efficient communication in global virtual team environments. After passing the course, the student should be able to:
- Give an account of key properties of global virtual teams and their potential advantages and challenges
- Connect core dimensions of global skills (knowledge, skills, attitudes and critical awareness) to virtual teamwork contexts
- Discuss consequences and challenges connected to the role of English as a lingua franca in global virtual team environments
- Give an account of pragmatic strategies for working appropriately and efficiently in a global virtual team, and for preventing or solving misunderstandings and communication problems
Preparations before course start
Literature
All literature can be found in the course room on Canvas or via links from there.
Support for students with disabilities
Students at KTH with a permanent disability can get support during studies from Funka:
Examination and completion
Grading scale
P, F
Examination
- LEXA - Continuous Assessment, 2.0 credits, Grading scale: P, F
Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
Other requirements for final grade
Detailed grading criteria and assignments can be found in the course memo (kurs-PM)
Grading criteria/assessment criteria
A two-grade scale P/F is used, where P corresponds to Pass and F to Fail. To pass the course, active participation in all course meetings and passed assignments are required.
Learning outcomes |
P - Pass |
---|---|
1 Give an account of key properties of global virtual teams and their potential advantages and challenges |
exemplify and discuss with insights and concepts taken from the literature and your own reflections |
Examined through online seminars, discussion assignments and written assignments (LEXA) |
|
2 Connect core dimensions of global skills (knowledge, skills, attitudes and critical awareness) to virtual teamwork contexts |
exemplify and discuss with insights and concepts taken from the literature and your own reflections |
Examined through online seminars, discussion assignments and written assignments (LEXA) | |
3 Discuss consequences and challenges connected to the role of English as a lingua franca in global virtual team environments |
exemplify and discuss with insights and concepts taken from the literature and your own reflections |
Examined through online seminars, discussion assignments and written assignments (LEXA) | |
4 Give an account of pragmatic strategies for working appropriately and efficiently in a global virtual team, and for preventing or solving misunderstandings and communication problems |
link strategies from the literature and your own reflections to your own practice |
Examined through online seminars, discussion assignments and written assignments (LEXA) |
Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination
One (1) missed meeting may, if need be, be compensated by a written in-depth assignment.
Ethical approach
- All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
- In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
- In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.
Further information
Additional regulations
- In group projects, all members are responsible for group's work.
- At examinations, each student should honestly report any help that has been received and sources that have been used.
- At oral examinations, each student should be able to give an account of the whole assignment and the whole solution.
Contacts
Round Facts
Start date
23 Oct 2023
Course offering
- Autumn 2023-10071
Language Of Instruction
English