MGMT09029 2022 Leading and Managing Remote Teams

Explore the major theories and concepts from the virtual team and remote working literature associated with managing and leading remote teams.

Illustrate the importance of diverse leadership styles and the competencies necessary for leaders managing in a virtual environment.

Critically examine and demonstrate an understanding of the Critical Success Factors (CSF) necessary for remote working.

Engage with and critically evaluate organisational solutions on how to train geographically dispersed virtual workers and how Top Management manage cultural diversity in a borderless workforce.

Analyse the current legislation governing remote working and the legislative implications to the organisation when recruiting from a global talent pool.

Live online learning will occur weekly.

Once per term students will be offered the opportunity to attend for classroom-based learning. The onsite teaching and learning plan will be developed in consultation with students. It may vary year by year.

A variety of teaching and learning techniques will be incorporated including case studies, problem-based learning, guest lecturing, flipped classroom, and peer learning. At Masters Level students, will be required to actively engage in significant self-directed study and independent learning which will provide participants with additional opportunities to integrate and reflect upon professional and /or college-based experiences and will underpin formal teaching and assessment.

An important element of the assessment is the student’s ability to apply their learning in practice and reflect critically on its implications by adopting an action-based strategic approach. Empirical evidence reveals the challenges associated with leading and managing remote teams and this will be the focus of part one of the student's continuous assessment. 

Assessment 1) The focus of this assessment is to align leading and managing remote teams with organisations structures and culture. Students are required within their organisation to identify an element of leading remote teams for further investigation. Utilising the ICT capabilities available in house students are required to design and produce a detailed report  in relation to implementing remote working and in particular managing  training, performance, and collaboration  in a virtual environment

Assessment 2) Students are required to assess current legislative requirements in relation to managing a culturally diverse workforce and critically review current and emerging legislation governing remote working and present their findings to their class.

3) To support active student engagement with learning when offsite 20% will be awarded for participation in VLE Subject Blog on the adoption of remote working and leading and managing remote teams, in the context of leadership styles and competencies.

Repeat assessments requirements will be based on failed components and be recorded at the Progression and Award Boards.

LO1) Explore the major theories and concepts from the virtual team and remote working literature associated with managing and leading remote teams.

The topic of remote working will be considered within the context of its relevancy and application to the organisation of today. The nature of remote working will be examined and framed for the learner. The importance of the “right” remote working strategy to adopt will be discussed together with managing performance within remote teams.

LO2) Illustrate the importance of diverse leadership styles and the competencies necessary for leaders managing in a virtual environment.

Learners will examine diverse leadership styles and the core competencies which are required in the virtual organisation. They will consider ideas such as authentic leadership and strategic leadership, together with technical competencies and emotional intelligence and how these factors contribute to an effective and sustainable remote working strategy.

LO3) Critically examine and demonstrate an understanding of the Critical Success Factors (CSF) necessary for remote working.

Factors which are considered critical to supporting remote workers will be examined. These will include, creating communities between virtual workers, social isolation, communication, and managing tasks will be examined. We will also reflect on how these factors which are critical to support those working remotely, can be addressed.

LO 4) Engage with, and critically evaluate, organisational solutions on how to train geographically dispersed virtual workers and how Top Management manage cultural diversity in a borderless virtual workforce.

Learners will critique the potential challenges associated with training geographically dispersed virtual workers. They will also reflect on the planning and implementation of a virtual working environment on the culture of an organisation and how best to manage this, to support a positive and collaborative virtual workplace. Students will also explore the topic of globally dispersed virtual teams within an organisation.

LO5) Analyse the current legislation governing remote working and the legislative implications to the organisation when recruiting from a global talent pool.

Current and pending legislation governing remote working will be discussed including “the right to switch off”. We will also discuss the legislation concerning hiring oversea workers in a virtual environment and the implications for workers in Ireland working outside of Ireland remotely which include the Double Tax Treaty (DTT) and the Pay As you Earn (PAYE) Exclusion Order.