The two main factors that can be used to categorize e-teams are the number of locations (one or more) and the number of managers (one or more). This is graphically illustrated in Fig. 1. These elements define the types of issues that are most likely to occur and the methods available for handling them. e-teams fall into four categories:
- e-workers: One manager overseeing a group of people at one location.
- e-team: One manager overseeing a group of employees dispersed over several sites.
- e-workers who are matrixed: a group of managers at one place who oversee a team.
- Matrixed e-teams: Various managers in various places.
When workers are on varying or staggered shifts, time is another factor to take into account. A company using one e-teaming method is probably going to use other ones as well, and real-world scenarios are probably more intricate combinations of these amorphous categories. A group of e-workers with one remote worker could serve as an example. After e-teams have been categorized, it is possible to look at the various problems that these teams frequently face and determine which problems affect which kind of team. Generally speaking, the left half of Figure 1 shows scenarios involving a single manager; multi-manager problems like conflicts in processes or disparities in organizational cultures do not apply. The top half of Fig.1 shows situations where the team works at one location, thus issues of travel (for internal meetings) are less likely to apply. Wherever possible, it can be included practical, real-world examples.
