Globally linked virtual organizations (VOs) hold the promise of successfully tackling complex problems and designs that lead social, industrial and technological innovation. Yet these cross-cultural virtual organizations (CCVOs) appear to be hampered by problems of communication, conflict and productivity. One approach to mitigating these problems is to ask how such CCVOs can pattern the so-called co-located VOs or face-to-face work groups. This article proposes a different approach. A learning systems approach to CCVOs has the potential for successfully addressing such issues and does so in a manner that is continuously adaptive (organic). Further, a learning system approach can turn seeming problems of CCVOs into resources for diverse thinking and creative design. The article outlines this approach and proposes not only the strengths of such an approach but also the challenges it presents.
A Learning Systems Approach to Cross-Cultural Virtual Organizations
Author: Lynn Ilon
Information, Communication & Society. 14(2): 219-236.
2011
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/1369118X.2010.502943