Clear, proven solutions for virtual project management challengesProjects Without Boundaries offers project managers a clear framework for bringing both project management practices and project team leadership principles to the virtual space. Written by a team of authors with years of experience managing nationally and internationally distributed teams, this book provides a suite of best practices, checklists, and actionable strategies for managing a project and building a high-performing team in a virtual and multicultural environment. Real-world examples illustrate the application of the concepts discussed, and the Virtual Project Readiness Assessment facilitates both team evaluation and transformation planning for virtual project management improvement. Each chapter focuses on the critical challenges encountered while managing virtual projects and details proven solutions that improve a virtual organization, boost project performance, and facilitate positive outcomes.Globalization and technological advances have merged to create dynamic, productive teams that work together from around the globe; this opportunity can bring great difficulty for project managers, who must negotiate hurdles that do not exist on traditional projects. This book provides ready-made solutions specific to distributed and multicultural teams, to help you achieve the full potential of the global talent pool.* Overcome common challenges of virtual projects with distributed teams* Navigate complex team dynamics to ensure effective collaboration* Work seamlessly across borders, time zones, and cultures* Determine optimal virtual communication and collaboration tools* Apply traditional project management practices in a virtual settingA team fails or thrives on the strength of its management. Fitting the group's needs, expectations, personalities, and skills into a cohesive whole is seldom simple -- and distance adds an additional layer of complexity. Projects Without Boundaries provides expert guidance on keeping it together, with proven practices, tools, and virtual team leadership strategies.

Preface viiAcknowledgments ixI Introduction 11 Working in a Virtual World 3Forces Driving Virtual Transformation 5Rise of Virtual Organizations and Projects 9Virtual Projects Are Different 10Transitioning to the Virtual World 18Assessing the Virtual Project Manager 19Notes 22II Planning the Virtual Project, Building the Virtual Team 232 Planning the Virtual Project 25Planning a Virtual Project 26Establishing Project Alignment 31Architecting the Virtual Project 36Understanding the Complexity of Virtual Projects 37With Complexity Comes Risk 41Planning Virtual Communication 43Assessing Virtual Project Planning 45Notes 483 Building a High-performance Virtual Team 49Virtual Project Team Types 50Differentiating High-Performance 55Building a High-Performance Virtual Project Team 56Assessing Virtual Project Team Members 68Notes 69III Managing Project Execution, Leading the Virtual Team 714 Executing the Virtual Project 73Managing Assumptions 75Hyper-vigilant Governance 76Managing Outsourced Project Work 84Managing Change 85Integrating Distributed Work 87People Side of Project Execution 89Influencing Virtual Stakeholders 92Assessing Virtual Project Execution 99Notes 1015 Leading the Virtual Project Team 103Be the Project Compass 104Be the Team Conductor 105Be the Champion 106Recognizing the Virtual Team 115Leverage Your Leadership Style 117Adding "E" to Leadership 119Becoming an Effective Virtual Team Leader 120Assessing Virtual Team Performance 120Notes 1226 Empowering the Project Network 125Centralize First 125Empowering by Decentralizing 133Centralized/Decentralized Project Construct 148Assessing Virtual Team Collaboration 149Notes 151IV Organizational Considerations 1537 Leading a Multicultural Virtual Team 155Putting Culture in Context 156Cultural Intelligence 157Challenges of Multicultural Virtual Project Teams 157Cultural Factors 158Creating a Cultural Strategy 165Converging Company and Country Culture 169Assessing Cross-Cultural Awareness 171Notes 1738 Using Technology to Communicate and Collaborate 175Role of Technology 176Using Technology to Communicate 176Using Technology to Collaborate 179Technology Options for the Virtual Project 180No Shortage of Options 194Technology Selection 194Increasing Technology Usage 197Notes 1979 Sustaining Virtual Project Success 199Changing Organizational and Team Structures 200Modifying the Project Execution Model 203Changing Behavior by Changing Rewards 205Promoting Cultural Awareness 206Developing Virtual Project Managers 208Virtual Project Management Journey 219Notes 219Appendix Virtual Project Readiness Assessment 221Index 227