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Cross-Cultural Virtual Spaces and Teams

Daniel Student and Dr. Cleveland Justis

Airplanes gave us the ability to travel across oceans to visit international team members. But virtual spaces are now bringing us together in an instant. New rules have been written, and as work-from-home is on the rise, re-written, and they bring their own unique cross-cultural challenges. We’ll discuss communication differences unique to text-driven spaces like email and instant message as well as the evolving world of video conferencing. We’ll explore unique cultural challenges brought up by this “new office”, such as the blending of private and public spaces, the “virtual water cooler” of informal virtual communication, and the “time zone dance” done by teams sharing virtual work done while one half is asleep. The future is now. Thanks to technological advances, we have an opportunity to show up, share our cultures, and build creative and innovative pathways to successful multinational teams. Let’s build best practices together in this virtual space and then work together to make them go viral!

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What's inside

Syllabus

Getting Started and How Virtual Spaces Change Communication
In this module, you will be able to discuss the benefits and challenges of written and verbal communication cues and be able to define how virtual communication has changed modern business communication. You'll be able to discover how people process information in the virtual space and be able to compare and contrast virtual communication with in-person communication. You will be able to specify the differences in virtual written communications versus verbal communication. And finally, you'll be able to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual tolls of communication as substitutes for in-person communications.
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How Culture Shows Up in Virtual Communication
In this module, you will be able to recognize how your identity shows up or does not show up clearly in a virtual space. You will be able to explore how culture plays a role in today's written and verbal communications and be able to look at culture with a wider lens to provide a framework for building your virtual team. You will be able to recognize how our innate biases show up when we can and can not see someone's face and be able to build a safe virtual space what allows all personalities to succeed.
Cultural Challenges for Virtual Teams
In this module, you will be able to recognize and respond to cultural differences in establishing what is a public and private space within your business team. You will be able to discuss strategies for building personal relationships and empathy with the lack of reality within virtual spaces and be able to examine how formal and informal communication will differ on a virtual team. You will be able to discuss how the concept of linear versus flexible time can impact culture and distinguish between collective versus individual cultures in virtual spaces.
New Opportunities for Cross-Cultural Teams
In this final module, you will be able to identify the opportunities to improve a multinational, cross-cultural team using virtual spaces. You will be able to recognize and name opportunities to use your own personal culture in a virtual space to cultivate team collaboration. You will also be able to design small acts of leadership, using virtual tools, to inspire cultural connectivity from your team members.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Examines cultural nuances in virtual communication, which is essential for successful remote teams
Taught by instructors Daniel Student and Dr. Cleveland Justis, who are experts in cross-cultural communication
Develops strategies for building relationships and fostering empathy in virtual teams
Explores the unique challenges and opportunities of virtual spaces for cross-cultural teams
Provides a framework for understanding cultural differences in virtual communication
Requires students to have strong communication and cultural awareness skills

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Activities

Coming soon We're preparing activities for Cross-Cultural Virtual Spaces and Teams. These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.

Career center

Learners who complete Cross-Cultural Virtual Spaces and Teams will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Communication Manager
Understanding how to interact in virtual settings is a vital part of working as a Communication Manager. In many companies, a Communication Manager is the person who determines the most effective means of delivering important information to employees. With the help of this course that teaches the influence of culture on communication, you can become an effective Communication Manager. It is best suited for those who work for a multinational company or a company that deals with more than one culture.
International Relations Manager
In this role, you're in charge of managing international relationships and working with professionals from around the world. This course can provide you with the guidance needed for navigating work relationships in virtual settings. It might even help you build relationships with potential clients. This course can help you understand the cultural differences in the ways in which people communicate.
Global Business Consultant
As a Global Business Consultant, you'll work with businesses to help develop strategies for international expansion. By having a better understanding of the cultural challenges faced by virtual teams and the unique opportunities virtual spaces create for cross-cultural teams, companies can make better decisions.
Cultural Anthropologist
This course may be useful as a person who studies the behavior, origin, and development of human societies. Having an understanding of communication differences across cultures can help you gain a better understanding of a society or culture.
Cross-Cultural Trainer
This course may be useful as a person who helps others learn about and adapt to different cultures. Many people work as cross-cultural trainers for companies to ease the transition for employees in global or international roles.
Diversity and Inclusion Manager
A Diversity and Inclusion Manager creates a welcoming and inclusive work environment for employees from all backgrounds. This course can help build the foundational knowledge needed for developing diversity training and programs for virtual companies.
International Business Development Manager
An International Business Development Manager develops and implements strategies to expand a company's presence in international markets. To be successful in this role, it is essential to understand and appreciate different cultures, an objective of this course.
Intercultural Communication Trainer
This course may be useful as a person who helps organizations and individuals navigate the challenges of intercultural communication. This course can help build foundational communication skills in text-driven spaces like email and instant message.
Expatriate Manager
This course may be useful as a person who manages and supports employees who are working in a foreign country. An understanding of cultural differences in communication can help you better manage and support your employees.
Language Access Coordinator
This course may be useful as a person who coordinates language access services for organizations. An understanding of cultural differences in communication can help you better understand the unique challenges faced by individuals who are not native speakers of English.
Multimedia Artist
This course may be useful as a person who creates visual art, often using a combination of different media and techniques. It offers foundational knowledge on how to effectively communicate using different mediums. This is essential to success as a multimedia artist.
Virtual Event Organizer
This course may be useful as a person who plans and executes virtual events. In virtual spaces, successful events require careful planning and execution to ensure that attendees have a positive experience, which this course can teach.
Online Community Manager
This course may be useful as a person who manages online communities and builds relationships with community members. An understanding of the influence culture has on communication is helpful because online communities can have members from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.
Translator
This course may be useful as a person who translates written or spoken text from one language to another. It provides a helpful guide on how to effectively communicate in different cultures.
Interpreter
This course may be useful as a person who interprets spoken or signed language from one language to another. In virtual meetings, it is important to effectively convey the tone and intent of the original speaker.

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Cross-Cultural Virtual Spaces and Teams.
Offers practical advice on managing remote teams effectively and can supplement the course's discussions on building virtual workspaces.
Provides a framework for understanding cultural differences and can be used to enhance the course's exploration of cultural challenges in virtual teams.
Offers a collection of essays on intercultural communication theory and research, providing additional insights into the cultural dimensions explored in the course.
Offers a comprehensive overview of virtual team management, providing additional insights into the course's discussions on team structure and collaboration.
Provides a comprehensive overview of business etiquette and customs across cultures, enhancing the course's discussions on cultural differences in virtual communication.
Explores the concept of cultural intelligence and its importance in global business, complementing the course's focus on cross-cultural communication and collaboration.

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