Table 2 Summary of suggestions for a successful multicultural VT

Suggestions for Facilitators

Define the goals as clearly and transparent as possible at the very beginning

Begin with face-to-face team-building session with intercultural activities by using topics that team members can relate to from their everyday lives prior to VT launch (kick offs) and then move into virtual context

Establish personal relationships (For instance, make room for some personal one-on-one time with the team members to get to know them better and to establish better rapport, if possible) to

Improve cultural intelligence (i.e. capability to deal and communicate effectively in culturally diverse settings, e.g. using more intensive, culturally appropriate, relationship-building strategies) and

Increase openness to cultural diversity (i.e. the degree of receptivity to perceived dissimilarity, e.g. the cultural differences in terms of communication styles

Build trust

Foster creativity

Use richer communication channels such as video, audio, etc. rather than lean communication channels such as text that lacks nonverbal cues (at least, at the beginning of the teamwork)

Master VT technology

Consider the content-communication-technology compatibility and effectiveness (e.g. use audio conference for discussing the milestones or critical work packages to avoid any misunderstanding about the task at hand rather than written communication while using e-mail to check the progress about an ongoing task).

Improve the necessary team management skills such as checking the progress, questioning, fostering participation, managing conflict and anxiety etc.

In case of a problem or conflict,

Avoid “taking sides.”

Clarify and address problem,

Give clear instructions,

Focus on the issues and

Work toward solutions.

Give immediate, positive, informative and constructive feedback on results

Suggestions for Team Members

Identify other team members’ cultural values and understand how they differ from one’s own as well as the similarities

Learn the cultural logic of others’ divergent beliefs

Respect, accept and tolerate the differences

Communicate utilizing the netiquette rules at all times while avoiding using slang or other culture specific terms

Suggestions for Designers

Follow user-centered design methods, especially the participatory design approach, which is the best development approach for creating a cyber-environment for VTs

Be aware of the lack of social cues or emotions (facial expressions, body language, etc.), which makes electronic communication different than the communication in a face-to-face environment.

Consider the content-technology compatibility