Essay About Time Zones And Global Team

Exec Summary Managing a Global Team: Greg James at Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Managing a Global Team: Greg James at Sun Microsystems, Inc.JamesA star engineer, technical, complex technical problems.  Really large team.  Issues with cohesion.Open work – some did it to do it, buy-inFace-to-face contact, see the groups evenly and see them more.  Rotational hours to spread around the duties (time zones)Weekly conference calls: stuck to list of topics, firm start/end times (equity with agenda)Suggestion: have individual EE/mgr conversation to decide if Open Work arrangement is appropriateSuggestion: clear, well-understood, consistent protocol (to eliminate time change/ weekend/weekday issue)Suggestion: manager training, effective team communication, potential have semi-annual group meetings in-person, watercooler convos/favoring the AmericansSuggestion: need new approach to staffing, James selected technical people/leftoversUAE11 people – not enough face-to-face contact, disconnected from company as a wholeProgress takes longer because of developing relationships… dealing with 2 timelinesCultural problems… more work, perf evals, missing deadlines, Raul and Jamal interpersonal issuesMiddle east – dissatisfaction with the arrangements (stuff from the graphs)Suggestion: cultural sensitivity training, potentially move/replace team membersIssue: company/country culture mismatchIndiaRaul and Jamal, Praveen and Nick interpersonal problems (Indian team not competent)2nd class citizens – fewer agenda items, interruptions, issues were already addressed lastUnhappy – customer maintenance, put out fires, no creative inputSuggestion: clarify job roles, allow for creative inputU.S.11 employees inherited from a start-up acquisitionRationalize compensation because of job securityUnfair workload, French vacation lawsEmail threads: James favoring, making decisions without everyoneSuggestion: Nick shouldn’t be Open Work, change approach to deadlines to accommodate UAE timelineSuggestion: definitely need cultural sensitivity training, they have a sense of entitlementFranceResearch: how rigid labor laws are during national vacationDisparity between American pay, issue of job security (except not really because they were contract workers)Company overallTeam staffing and compensation: world market, work is equitable pay is notJames took the easy way to staffingVirtual teams: understanding the circumstances with time changes, cultureSuggestion: meeting twice per quarter (8 times a year) rotating location to increase facetime; expose managers to other sites, maybe encourage more cultural awareness and understandingJames is more reactive than proactive, spends most of his time in Santa Clara