In the past, a meeting for many global companies and organizations with largely distributed partakers was challenging. For example, previously if a company called a meeting and attendees were in different locations, the business would either fly those in attendance to a central location, or hold conference calls. Today companies take advantage of technology by holding virtual meetings.
According to Educause Learning Initiative “A virtual meeting is Online virtual meetings are real-time interactions that take place over the Internet using features such as audio and video, chat tools, and application sharing” (Educase Learning Initiative, 2006).
In other words a virtual meeting can link meeting participants without him or her ever leaving his or her workplace. From this new innovation businesses can expand businesses and make decisions faster; however, all meeting attendees should learn to respect each other, communicate, and appreciate each other’s differences.
There are several types of teams, from sports teams to debate teams and workplace teams. Workplace teams is the focus of this paper, specifically virtual teams, the individual who are a part of the team must be there to create a cooperative effort for teamwork to be present.
Different obstacles can be created by virtual meetings because the individuals involved in the meeting are not face to face and only have what each other say to make his or her impressions and perceptions. The teams involved in the virtual meetings have to be open to learn, share, discuss, and seek information and knowledge.
The virtual meeting scenario with Pablo, Sam and Lifang Lin, they all are from different regions and cultures. The simulation is provided by University of Phoenix (2009). The obstacles and difficulties that each individual in the simulation endures include accents, stereotypes, culture, ego and gender. There are remarks made based on one’s culture and stereotypes brought up. In the simulation it is understood that because Lifang Lin is a female that the two males seems to leave her out of conversation and not recognize that she is a part of the team. Sam, an American, made offensive comments that are very derogatory and rude.
He also made a prejudice comment to Pablo that he wants to “build a higher wall along the border there so y’all meaning Mexican don’t keep coming over into America and ruining things for the rest of us,” (University of Phoenix, 2009). Sam also talks about taking “siestas” and calling him “Senor Pablo” and that he “don’t hablo espanol or anything like that. ” Even though Pablo is an educated man Sam comments still make seems like he is superior to Pablo and Pablo in inferior to him. Sam is an unethical, prejudice, self-absorb, and bias person. I would not have let it the conservation get far.
I would have told Sam he was unprofessional and we are here to conduct business. Pablo is from Mexico and third world country. Pablo has a big ego and he always singing his own praises and building his self-up. He always wants to take the lead, talk about how handsome he is, talk about a lot about his accomplishments, and feel he is superior to everyone else. Pablo appears to be self-centered and arrogant just from his introduction. He did show have some hostility toward Sam regarding his remarks, Pablo told Sam the topic is sensitive to him. Pablo is an egotistical person despite the how Sam stereotyped him.
I would have did the same with Pablo stopped him before he made everything about himself and not the business. Lifang Lin is from China. Lifang Lin is the most professional out of them all. She needs to talk up some to Sam and Pablo and not let them bully her. She is submissive, maybe because of her culture. She appears to be somewhat shy and laid back, but she is respectful of other. She tries to makes things peaceful between everyone. She is more of a peacemaker and leader than Sam and Pablo. If I was Lifang Lin I would have ask Sam and Pablo to conduct themselves professionally and treat each other with respect.