Enabling Creative Virtual Teams in SMEs

Abstract

Many SMEs struggle to support virtual teams effectively within distributed design projects, hindering their creative potential. It is not uncommon for SMEs to have tools and working practice imposed on them by collaborating multinationals to meet the requirements of the multinational. SMEs however, need to develop their own working practices to support effective, virtual team design within their own organisation or extended design team. This chapter describes, through a series of four case studies, how a typical SME achieved successful virtual team working within their organisation. A “strategy for enabling creative virtual teams” encompassing the processes, methods, and tools developed and implemented within the company to achieve this success is presented. Generic and transferable findings drawn from this two year study aimed at helping other SMEs, form the conclusion of this chapter.