Maryam Alavi and Peter G.W. Keen
An important success factor for businesses in the next century will be their
ability to meet the environmental demands for complex coordination of action
and rapid adjustments to volatile markets and global competition. Business teams
are effective mechanisms for addressing the need for dynamic, flexible organizations
that can effectively deal with complexity and turbulence. While business teams
are not a new phenomenon, there is a new element in the equation - the use of
information technology (IT) to leverage team effort. IT can enhance team performance
through the support of interaction processes by providing 2 types of functionality:
coordination support and task execution support. An agenda for action for moving
forward a team-based organization and use of IT for support of business teams
is provided.