Virtual Teams: Reaching Across Space, Time, and ... (ISBN 0471165530)

Amazon.com Review:
Teams have become an increasingly important part of business success. The creation of virtual teams with members geographically scattered but electronically connected has set many companies on fire. Yet for all their power and flexibility, virtual teams face greater obstacles than traditional teams do. Organizational networking experts Jessica Lipnack and Jeffrey Stamps provide the keys to successful virtual teams, showing how to harness their potential while avoiding their many potential pitfalls. The many case studies offered are particularly enlightening as the authors demonstrate the techniques, mechanics, and communications required to build the virtual teams that supercharge an enterprise.

A "must-have" for any consultant.:
Whether we choose to embrace technology, it is here to stay. Those who harness and leverage its capabilities will discover exciting new ways to conduct commerce. From entrepreneurial startups to the mega corporations, "Virtual Teams" explores not only how these emerging technologies will affect our daily activities but how our workplaces and social interactions will metamorphose. I highly recommend this book; Lipnack and Stamps are visionaries in field of networking. -- L. Alan Schuetz, President, DVMS, Inc.

Simultaneously Fundamental and Visionary...:
"Virtual Teams" was a real treat for both my academic and consulting sensibilities. I have never seen such a thorough work on this topic. It is both fundamental and visionary at the same time. In discourse with a fellow business consultant we bantered about the topic of Lipnack and Stamps latest book (of which I had received an advance copy). He said: "Unfortunately, Lipnack and Stamps(L & S) have been 10 years ahead of the curve with their understanding of the importance of networking." "But," I replied, "With the book 'Virtual Teams' they offer the world-wide-race-to-the-Internet a well needed moment of reflection-during which they offer PURPOSE to connecting and give virtual teaming DEFINITION and DIRECTION." And the banter continued but we both agreed and got tingles as our chat echoed the truth of their statement: "Communication technologies and computer networks-in particular the Internet-are underwriting this moment of pregnant potential." (p 240) "You know," I concluded, "It's a good thing they (L & S) were ahead of their time-otherwise we would not have the language to discuss our 'interdependence' symptoms, to test our 'distributed business' hypothesis', and to realize how much responsibilty it is to be 'pregnant' with potential! Really! The capabilities and expectations we have to manage in these Internet days... how exciting, how dangerous! After all, 'net potential, without 'net performance is just predisposed waste, don't you agree?" "Yeah, yeah Paula,--yadda, yadda, yadda; 'net, 'net, 'net...enough philosophy-so, should I read the book or not?" "Go for it." I replied. "This book is not just an electronic blip about the latest fad of virtual teams- it is a study on careful communication, on planning and developing valuable distributed business relationships...a book to be savored and re-read over time." (BTW --Mine is already all dog-eared and worn!) Be prepared to THINK DEEP; when you read this book, SIP it SLOWLY and --ENJOY!