Solving Communication Issues with Virtual Project Teams

Project post mortem discussions rarely focus on what went right…they are more often concerned with what went wrong, what can be learned from the experience, and how the project can be improved next time.

Very often the problems stem from poor communication. Though good communication can be challenging even when project team members are all on the same site, it becomes a far greater challenge when team members communicate and work virtually.

According to project post mortem experts, here are two of the main causes of communication breakdown:

1. The teams are too big. Especially with virtual teams, it is critical to keep the core team members under ten. When other expertise is needed, use advisory groups to provide necessary input. 
2. Members feel a lack of accountability. From the outset, establish clear lines of accountability so all project participants feel a responsibility to the overall success of the project. They need to feel that their performance will be evaluated not just on their contributions but also on their collaboration.