Virtual Collaboration Tools Research Articles

Remote work and human resource management: Challenges and solutions

The rise of remote work, accelerated by global disruptions and technological advancements, has fundamentally reshaped traditional human resource management (HRM) practices. This study investigates the key challenges that organizations face in managing a remote workforce, including maintaining employee engagement, ensuring effective communication, managing productivity, and addressing mental health concerns. Additionally, the research explores the role of technology in overcoming these challenges, highlighting solutions such as virtual collaboration tools, flexible work policies, and performance monitoring systems. Through an analysis of current HR practices in organizations that have successfully adapted to remote work, this paper identifies best practices and strategic adjustments necessary for HR managers to support a distributed workforce. The findings suggest that while remote work offers flexibility and operational efficiency, it also requires a shift in HR strategies toward building a cohesive virtual work culture, offering ongoing training, and ensuring employee well-being. This research contributes to the understanding of how HRM can evolve to meet the demands of the remote work environment, providing actionable insights for organizations navigating this new paradigm.

Exploring the Challenges and Opportunities of Blended Learning in a Technology–Enabled Education Environment

Technology integration in education has led to blended learning, a pedagogical approach combining traditional face-to-face instruction with online learning components. Through a comprehensive review of existing literature and empirical research, this investigation examines the impact of blended learning on both students and educators. It delves into this approach's diverse range of technologies, including Learning Management Systems, video conferencing tools, and digital content platforms. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis, the research identifies the opportunities that arise from adopting blended learning. It investigates the advantages of increased student flexibility, personalised learning experiences, and enhanced access to educational resources. The study explores how interactive content and virtual collaboration tools can boost student engagement and motivation. However, the study also uncovers educators' and students' challenges when implementing blended learning. These obstacles include technology access and proficiency issues, consistent communication, and addressing individual learning needs. The study addresses potential resistance to change from traditional teaching methods and the importance of teacher training and support. It compares students' achievements in blended learning environments with those in traditional classrooms and analyses the role of technology in influencing these outcomes. Based on the findings, the research concludes by providing insights into the future implications of blended learning in technology-enabled education environments. Keywords: Blended Learning; Learning Management System; Technology-enabled learning

Talent Management in the Age of Digital Disruption: Challenges and Opportunities

The rise of digital disruption has fundamentally transformed the landscape of talent management, presenting both challenges and opportunities for organizations. This article examines how businesses are adapting their talent management strategies to cope with the rapid advancements in technology, such as artificial intelligence, automation, and the growing prominence of remote work. The study explores the challenges posed by digital disruption, including the widening skills gap, the need for continuous reskilling, and the increasing competition for top talent in a globalized workforce. On the other hand, digital tools also offer opportunities for organizations to enhance their talent acquisition, development, and retention processes. The use of data analytics and AI-powered recruitment tools, for instance, allows for more efficient and data-driven decision-making in hiring and workforce planning. Furthermore, the integration of learning management systems and virtual collaboration tools facilitates employee development and enables organizations to foster a more agile and adaptable workforce. The article presents case studies from various industries, demonstrating how companies are leveraging digital solutions to overcome talent management challenges while embracing opportunities for growth and innovation. The findings suggest that organizations that prioritize digital transformation and align their talent management strategies with technological advancements are better positioned to thrive in an increasingly competitive and digital-first world.

Strategies Adopted by Employees Toward Meeting the Requirements of International Company Needs and Developing Global Efficiency

"In the modern world, the international company cultivates a culture on a global scale. Employees face challenges in adapting to critical international cultural levels. Employees need to develop skills, language proficiency, and cultural understanding based on the needs and requirements of international company strategies for the work culture. Employees must develop communication skills to interact with colleagues and clients worldwide. Employees are encouraged to learn multiple languages to engage with different cultures for global business activities. They can leverage technology to bridge geographical gaps. With the rise of virtual collaboration tools, employees can now work seamlessly across borders. By embracing digital platforms and staying up-to-date with the latest technology trends, employees can enhance their productivity and contribute to global efficiency. They can seek training opportunities that specifically address the challenges of working in an international context, such as cross-cultural communication or global project management. By embracing cultural intelligence, enhancing language skills, leveraging technology, and investing in continuous learning, employees can play a vital role in driving the success of international organizations in today's interconnected world. To achieve these goals, employees can adopt several strategies that help them navigate the challenges of working in a global setting."

Human resources challenges in global health organizations: Managing a diverse and dispersed workforce

In the dynamic landscape of global health organizations, Human Resources (HR) faces unique challenges in managing a diverse and dispersed workforce. This review explores the multifaceted issues that HR professionals encounter while navigating the intricacies of global health settings. One of the foremost challenges is the diversity inherent in the workforce of global health organizations. These entities often bring together professionals from diverse cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds, creating a melting pot of perspectives and approaches. HR must devise strategies to foster inclusivity, address cultural differences, and promote effective communication to harness the collective strength of this diverse talent pool. Furthermore, the dispersed nature of global health organizations presents a logistical challenge for HR management. With teams spread across different geographic locations, time zones, and cultural contexts, coordinating and integrating human resources practices becomes inherently complex. Virtual collaboration tools and innovative communication strategies become imperative to bridge the geographical gaps and create a cohesive organizational culture. Managing talent retention and development in such a context becomes crucial. HR professionals need to design policies and programs that cater to the professional growth and well-being of employees regardless of their physical location. This involves implementing virtual training programs, mentorship initiatives, and performance evaluation systems that transcend geographical boundaries. Moreover, compliance with local and international labor laws adds another layer of complexity to HR management in global health organizations. Navigating the legal landscape and ensuring adherence to diverse regulatory frameworks require a nuanced approach and continuous monitoring. Human Resources faces a myriad of challenges in global health organizations, from fostering diversity and inclusion to navigating the complexities of a dispersed workforce. Successfully addressing these challenges demands a strategic and adaptive HR approach, leveraging technology, cultural sensitivity, and innovative practices to create a unified and thriving global health workforce.

The Paradigm Shift from Traditional to Blended Learning Methodology in Architecture Education

The Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted the education sector, forcing institutions to explore alternative teaching methodologies. This research article examines the paradigm shift from traditional classroom-based face-to-face learning to blended learning in architecture education. A questionnaire was designed and administered to collect data from architecture students and educators in India, with a focus on their experiences and perceptions of blended learning. The results of the study indicate a significant rise in the adoption of blended learning in the postCovid-19 period. The respondents reported a favourable attitude towards blended learning, recognizing its potential to enhance learning outcomes and improve flexibility. The findings highlight the advantages of incorporating online platforms, multimedia resources, and virtual collaboration tools into architectural education. The findings indicate a significant increase in usage across various categories, with the highest increases observed in learning management systems, video conferencing platforms, online discussion sessions, live online lectures, online quizzes or assignment platforms, and online jury sessions. The research supports the idea that blended learning offers a promising approach to meet the evolving needs of architecture education in India. The flexibility and adaptability of blended learning methods provide opportunities for students to engage in self-paced learning, access a wide range of learning materials, and collaborate with peers and professionals beyond physical boundaries. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on the use of blended learning in architecture education, specifically in the context of India. The findings provide valuable insights for educators and policymakers seeking to integrate technology into the curriculum effectively. By embracing blended learning, architecture institutions can prepare students for the digital era while maintaining the fundamental principles of design education.

Adaptasi Tugas Seorang Akuntan dalam Era Pemulihan Ekonomi di Masa Covid-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a far-reaching impact on various economic sectors around the world. Accountants, as key players in the financial and business systems, face significant challenges in dealing with the profound changes taking place in the global economy. This study aims to investigate the adaptation of tasks performed by an accountant during the economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This study focuses on the role of accountants in assisting companies, organizations and their clients to deal with the challenges and opportunities faced due to prolonged crisis situations. Through qualitative analysis and a review of the literature, this study identified a number of adaptation strategies adopted by accountants to overcome the challenges faced during the economic recovery during the pandemic. The three key findings are flexibility, technology and financial strategy. First, flexibility is an important quality that must be possessed by an accountant. The pandemic has caused rapid and unpredictable fluctuations in business situations, and accountants must be able to quickly adjust to these changes. The ability to make plans and change them according to changes in the environment is the key to surviving and adapting to uncertain circumstances. Second, technology has become an important tool in adapting accountants' duties during a pandemic. The use of high-tech accounting systems, financial applications, and virtual collaboration tools has become imperative for accountants to remain productive and efficient while working remotely. Technology also plays an important role in providing real-time access to financial data, which enables accountants to make informed and accurate decisions. Third, a smart financial strategy is key in helping companies and clients face the challenges of economic recovery. The accountant should act as a trusted financial advisor, providing in-depth insight into short and long term financial planning and assisting in identifying new opportunities for business growth. In addition, accountants must be able to develop effective risk management strategies, anticipate potential financial problems, and provide timely solutions.

Future-proofing ecological knowledge management practices in the workplace: Lessons from the pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic compelled businesses to adopt effective ecological knowledge management strategies to navigate the ensuing difficulties brought about by changing work setups and mobility restrictions. This study employs a grounded theory approach to explore the emergence of such strategies and their impact on overcoming institutional obstacles in knowledge management. Twenty-two managers with at least five years of eco-managerial experience were interviewed, resulting in the identification of critical practices. These included virtual collaborative tools, electronic knowledge databases, agile knowledge management techniques, communities of practice, training and skill development programs, hybrid working patterns, strategies for knowledge transition and succession, and programs that promote mental health and work-life balance. By adopting virtual collaboration tools and electronic knowledge databases, access to and dissemination of information are expedited and secured, fostering teamwork and institutional success. Agile ecological knowledge management techniques enable businesses to pivot quickly, fortifying their resilience and adaptability during unpredictable periods. The endorsement of ecological and human well-being and work-life balance initiatives increases employee morale and psychological well-being. Knowledge-sharing strategies, such as the formulation of communities of practice, foster professional development and teamwork. Training and ecological upskilling programs equip employees with essential competencies, whereas the hybrid work setup offers adaptability and compensates for fewer interpersonal interactions. Businesses must prioritize these ecological knowledge management strategies to enhance their organizational resilience.

The constant mirror: Self-view and attitudes to virtual meetings

Users of modern web-conferencing platforms often view their own face as well as those of other attendees, which has been proposed as a contributing factor to negative attitudes towards virtual meetings. Two studies of people attending regular virtual meetings, one conducted with newly remote employees from a variety of organizations and one with business students shifted to remote learning, test this assumption. In both studies, the association between frequency of self-view during meetings and aversion to virtual meetings was contingent on a dispositional trait: the user's degree of public self-consciousness. In extending research on meeting satisfaction from in-person meetings to virtual ones, the results presented here indicate the need to consider specific technological features of virtual collaboration tools in conjunction with individual differences among users.

New Work Arrangements — A Review of Concepts and Theories

Much has changed since Frithjof Bergmann’s seminal thoughts on New Work (1994; 2004): For example, mobile devices as well as virtual communication and cooperation have entered the business world and have brought forth a new economy, agile work processes, new employment relationships, leadership styles, co-working tools, and an enhanced spatial and temporal flexibility (for a review, see Aroles et al., 2019). The present special issue on “New Work Arrangements” was initiated to revise and refine the underlying concepts and theories to account for these path-breaking developments. When we made our call for submissions in late 2019, our main observation was that research on work and leadership has been neglecting the pervasive presence of technology in organizational work (Orlikowski & Scott, 2017). We argued that these changes in work methods and organization are so profound that common theories and concepts need to be revisited to see if they still do justice to the changed situation. Shortly thereafter, the world was hit by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The corresponding restrictions on social contact and mobility catalysed, whether desired or not, the widespread use of virtual collaboration and communication tools, as well as flexible work arrangements that account for the various needs and duties of employees’ private lives (e.g., home-schooling). Much of what has been unthinkable in advance (e.g., video conferences instead of business trips, flexible forms of mobile work or home office) has proven beneficial for companies as well as employees. Hence, in the ‘new normal’ of the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis in Western industrialized nations, it seems clear that many of the new approaches will be maintained. Revisiting forms of New Work, as well as related challenges and opportunities, is now more important than ever.

A Randomized, Crossover Pilot Study of a Novel Web-Based/Mobile Platform for Collaborative Small Group Practice in Therapeutic Reasoning.

Background and Purpose:Therapeutic reasoning—the mental process of making judgments and decisions about treatment—is developed through acquisition of knowledge and application in actual or simulated experiences. Health professions education frequently uses collaborative small group work to practice therapeutic reasoning. This pilot study compared the impact of a web-based/mobile tool for collaborative case work and discussion to usual practice on student perceptions and performance on questions designed to test therapeutic knowledge and reasoning.Methods:In a therapeutics course that includes case-based workshops, student teams of 3 to 4 were randomly assigned to usual workshop preparation (group SOAP sheet) or preparation using the Practice Improvement using Virtual Online Training (PIVOT) platform. PIVOT was also used in the workshop to review the case and student responses. The next week, groups crossed over to the other condition. Students rated favorability with the preparatory and in-workshop experiences and provided comments about the PIVOT platform via a survey. Student performance on examination items related to the 2 workshop topics was compared.Results:One hundred and eleven students (94%) completed post-workshop surveys after both workshops. The majority of students (57%) preferred using the PIVOT platform for workshop collaboration. Favorability ratings for the in-workshop experience did not change significantly from first to second study week, regardless of sequence of exposure. There was no relationship between examination item scores and the workshop platform the students were exposed to for that content (P = .29). Student responses highlighted the efficiency of working independently before collaborating as a group and the ability to see other students’ thought processes as valuable aspects of PIVOT. Students expressed frustration with the PIVOT user interface and the lack of anonymity when discussing their answers in the workshop.Conclusion:A web-based/mobile platform for student team collaboration on therapeutic reasoning cases discussed in small group settings yielded favorable ratings, examination performance comparable to standard approaches, and was preferred by a majority of students. During the rapid shift to substantial online learning for the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual collaboration tools like PIVOT may help health professions teachers to better support groups working virtually on scaffolded therapeutic reasoning tasks.

Toward HAZOP 4.0 Approach for Managing the Complexities of the Hazard and Operability of an Industrial Polymerization Reactor

Conventional HAZOP is a collaborative and multidisciplinary activity to identify the hazards associated to operability of the chemical processes. Then the consequences and required safeguards of each potential deviation or failure are assessed qualitatively one by one. It is performed with the assumption of "one failure at the time" for the process parameters. Furthermore, process complexities such as multiple failures, domino effects, time and amplitude dependent deviations etc. are avoided to keep the HAZOP brainstorming sessions systematic and effective. Therefore, the quality and outcomes of HAZOP study are relatively subjective and depend on the experience and competency of the HAZOP team. This simplified approach cannot fully cover the hazard identification and risk assessment of the complex processes such as polymerization. Furthermore, the incident investigations show that almost all major accidents have occurred due to multiple failures or domino effects. This paper aims at developing a practical methodology in the context of "Industry 4.0" and particularly illustrate how dynamic simulation liberates the HAZOP team from the simplification assumptions such as one failure at the time or neglecting the domino effects during the lifecycle of the complex processes. An industrial styrene bulk free radical polymerization process has been chosen as the case study to depict the applicability of the proposed method. In continuation of this research, the dynamic simulation integrated with Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms and Multivariable Process Monitoring (MPM) together with virtual collaboration tools will be invoked towards a more practical and effective HAZOP 4.0 platform. Such a platform can be the foundation of the further Process Safety Management (PSM) elements such as "Operating manuals", "Training and Competency management", "Condition monitoring and predictive maintenance", "Management of Change", "Pre-Start-up Safety Review", etc.

Hand Videos in Virtual Collaboration for Map-Based Planning Activities

The tools studied in this work are map-based virtual environments that help people at different locations to solve map-based tasks together. The goal of this work is to evaluate the question: does adding real-time videos of the hands and arms of virtual collaborators to a map-based virtual environment help people to be more effective than simpler technologies (e.g. drawing on an electronic map, or telephone only)? Real-time videos of the participants’ hands, when overlaid on a shared electronic map, allow them to use their hands to indicate a route by tracing it with a finger, or draw attention to a location of interest. This information can also be conveyed via simpler and less expensive technologies, such as electronically drawing on a shared map, or verbally describing the route via telephone, but are equally effective? The answer to this question will help developers of virtual collaboration tools to assess whether it is worth the extra effort to include such features in their software.

In What Ways Do Natural Gestures Change Perceptions of Virtual Teamwork?

The goal of this study was to gain a better understanding of how gesturing over shared drawings and artifacts can change the way in which virtual team members communicate and perceive themselves as part of a team. We investigated these questions by asking pairs of traffic engineers to jointly manage traffic incidents (such as a tanker roll-over on a major highway). They communicated using a virtual collaboration interface allowing each member of the pair to communicate with his or her teammate by speaking, drawing and gesturing over a shared electronic map. We asked participant pairs to manage traffic incidents using three different versions of the interface: 1) face-to-face, where participants sat at the same table, 2) separate, where participants were positioned on opposite sides of a wall, and 3) hand images, e.g. same as 2 but with videos of the other’s hands projected on the map. We found that when participants could gesture to their virtual teammates, they felt more connected and reported stronger team behaviors. Most surprisingly, stronger team behaviors were reported with hand images (#3) than face-toface. These results provide important insights for design of future virtual collaboration tools.

ICT's participatory potential in higher education collaborations: Reality or just talk

AbstractRecently, interest has sparked in collaboration and networking within and between universities, industry, government and the wider populace. Knowledge transfer has gradually become a strategic issue, so that many governments and funding bodies now use economic‐based incentives to mandate collaboration in hope of stimulating innovation, improving efficiency and promoting inclusion. Web 2.0 has been heralded as an enabler of collaboration. Powerful new tools abound to enhance collaborative initiatives. I investigate uptake of these tools and their impact on collaboration in the Australian context. Although research is scant, the literature provided a preliminary picture of Web 2.0 usage patterns among Australian academics, researchers and professionals. Adoption of virtual collaboration tools for work activities is lower than expected. Connectivity, accessibility and availability do not seem to be major deterrents to Web 2.0 use, suggesting appropriation is the problem. It remains unclear whether these technologies have encouraged further collaboration; at present, these are primarily social devices and tools, their beneficial work applications yet to be fully unmasked. It is argued that further research and broader professional learning opportunities would support greater Web 2.0 appropriation.

Supporting Virtual Collaboration in Spatial Design Tasks: Are Surrogate or Natural Gestures More Effective?

Hand gestures offer a rich source of information for communication of spatial concepts. However, gestures are often lost when people work together in virtual space. Gestures may be conveyed in virtual spaces through many approaches, for example by drawing circles and arrows around objects on a shared screen, or using natural, real-time videos of a distant collaborator's hands or body. The first is an example of “surrogate” gestures and the second of “natural” gestures. The first is relatively inexpensive but requires users take some effort to draw and erase temporary symbols; the second is more costly but also more expressive and natural. This work will: 1) provide a brief, high-level framework characterizing tools that support virtual gestures; and 2) present an experimental study comparing the cognitive effort required when using sketched surrogate gestures versus natural gestures in a virtual mechanical design tasks. The larger goal is to understand whether the additional cost to support natural gestures is warranted, thus informing the design of future virtual collaboration tools. We recruited 24 participants and asked them to collaborate using three different approaches: face-to-face (as a baseline), virtual-sketching (which allows users to make gestural sketches on their drawings), and virtual-sketching with natural hand videos projected on the drawing surface. We found that users' cognitive workload was significantly reduced when natural hand videos were added to a virtual-sketching environment. These results suggest that the ease and expressivity of natural gestures provide more benefits than simpler surrogate gestures for virtual mechanical design tasks.

Quantifying the Impact of Facilitation on Transactive Memory System Formation in Global Virtual Project Networks

AbstractBuilding strong ties between geographically dispersed project participants is crucial to project success. In global project networks, many firms have adopted virtual collaboration tools to address the challenges imposed by temporal and geographical distance. Some researchers have examined the role of facilitators and found that process facilitation can improve collaboration. Research has also shown that facilitators can be drawn into content interactions, which may negatively impact collaboration effectiveness in virtual workspaces. Research to date has not quantified this negative impact. In this study, the formation and maintenance of transactive memory systems (TMS) in two facilitated and two nonfacilitated global virtual project networks were investigated, each executing a 2-month project. Using TMS formation and cohesive subgroup formation as a proxy for performance, quantitative evidence was found that demonstrates a negative impact on collaboration effectiveness when facilitators engage in ...

Collaboration Engineering to Improve the Idea Quality in Ideas Communities

Idea Communities allow their users to contribute to a company’s innovation activities by sharing their ideas with the Community. These ideas are then improved according to the Mass-Collaboration principle. Due to the high diversity among the participants, a shared understanding and a common goal is hard to develop in a mass collaboration environment. According to Bounded Ideation Theory, this leads to a limitation in the quality that the mass collaboration approach can achieve on the elaboration of ideas. This research in progress paper uses a theory based design approach to develop an approach that circumvents the problems of mass collaboration in Ideas Communities. Based on Bounded Ideation Theory, Collaboration Theory and Lead User Theory, this paper suggests an approach that allows small groups of community members to collaborate on the elaboration of pre-selected ideas. These users are selected based on the ideas they shared with the community, are brought together to define a common goal of collaboration and supported by a set of virtual collaboration tools. The goal of the research is development, piloting and evaluation of an adaptable process that can be implemented for any existing Ideas Community Platform.

Front-end, back-end and integration issues in virtual supply chain dynamics modelling

In this paper, we discuss the way in which dynamic modelling can be used to deal with front-end, back-end and integration issues in current high-tech virtual supply chains (SC). In the first part of the paper, we review and propose dynamic modelling options to connect customer value to business targets. This is done by explaining how to characterise target market by formalising what are often informal but deeply held beliefs about what drives their customers' purchase decisions. We explain how dynamic models may help to connect planned investments to expected improvements in the customer's perception of the product's critical attributes and thus increase sales, revenue, and market share. With the same effort, we can improve our customer demand forecast, and get a much better input for subsequent integrated supply chain planning models. In the second part of the paper, we review and discuss the operational and financial effectiveness of existing virtual tools used in supply chain integration. We discuss how dynamic modelling may help to obtain a comprehensive model of supply chain integration. A modelling effort that can be used for the analysis of the effectiveness of various levels of integration, as well as for the assessment of the importance of the sequence in which virtual collaboration tools are adopted in supply chain integration. In the third part of the paper, we discuss and explain experiences in modelling different types of supplier contracts to accomplish varying degrees of security and flexibility. We focus our attention on business dynamics based on current best practices in portfolio management, as evidenced by leaders in volatile high-technology businesses.