Subject category:
Human Resource Management / Organisational Behaviour
Published by:
RSM Case Development Centre
Length: 3 pages
Data source: Generalised experience
Notes: This item is part of a free case collection. For terms & conditions go to www.thecasecentre.org/freecaseterms
Abstract
This is part of a case series. Many teams in today's world work across time zones. This means that they have to deal with temporal offsets - not everyone is available at the same times. Temporal offsets pose challenges to communication and collaboration in teams. This simulation exemplifies these challenges and provides a classroom experience to form the base to discuss (a) different modes of communication, (b) how to use synchronous and asynchronous time most effectively, and (c) the different roles individual members in a temporally distributed team have to play to make it succeed. In the simulation, participants take the role of a consulting team to solve a problem for the client. To find the correct solution, they have to exchange and integrate unique information provided to each of them. Time zone differences are simulated by assigning participants to different 'locations' / time zones and splitting their time into 'awake' time during which they can engage with the team and the task and 'asleep' time during which they can't. The geography of the team is set up such that the whole team is never 'awake' at the same time. This case is part of the RSM free case collection (visit www.thecasecentre.org/rsmfreecases for more information on the collection).
Teaching and learning
This item is suitable for undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education courses.Time period
The events covered by this case took place in 2022.Geographical setting
Region:
World/global
About
Abstract
This is part of a case series. Many teams in today's world work across time zones. This means that they have to deal with temporal offsets - not everyone is available at the same times. Temporal offsets pose challenges to communication and collaboration in teams. This simulation exemplifies these challenges and provides a classroom experience to form the base to discuss (a) different modes of communication, (b) how to use synchronous and asynchronous time most effectively, and (c) the different roles individual members in a temporally distributed team have to play to make it succeed. In the simulation, participants take the role of a consulting team to solve a problem for the client. To find the correct solution, they have to exchange and integrate unique information provided to each of them. Time zone differences are simulated by assigning participants to different 'locations' / time zones and splitting their time into 'awake' time during which they can engage with the team and the task and 'asleep' time during which they can't. The geography of the team is set up such that the whole team is never 'awake' at the same time. This case is part of the RSM free case collection (visit www.thecasecentre.org/rsmfreecases for more information on the collection).
Teaching and learning
This item is suitable for undergraduate, postgraduate and executive education courses.Settings
Time period
The events covered by this case took place in 2022.Geographical setting
Region:
World/global