Teamwork across physical geographic boundaries

Description

The world is globalizing, the borders between the countries are diminishing. People, scientists, business men etc. from different geographic locations are forced to work together; they are for example, searching together for a cure for cancer. This is possible because the technology is so advanced now. Super-computers are located somewhere in the world and scientists from all over the world can use this computer power, data storage elements, processing power and other elements. This goes further than only sharing information through the internet.
Teamwork acros physical geographic boundaries is considered a driving force for intelectual property, because people that work together submit their work together and their work can be used by others, those people need globalized copyright laws, they need intelectual property to protect their own property.

Enablers

1. Globalization: the world is becoming one global market, one global "country"; the static borders are diminishing [1]
2. State of Technology: the technology is so advanced now, that it allows people from different geographical locations to work together on the same projects, as if there is no geographical distance between them for example, grid computing.
3. Increasing power of Multinationals: for the Multinationals it is easier if their subsidiaries can function together as if there is no physical distance between them.
4. Increasing role of cheap labour countries like China, India: because labour is much cheaper in those countries, companies outsource parts of their businesses to those countries and this demand for teamwork across geographical boundaries.

Inhibitors

1. Cross Cultural differences: people from different counties have different cultures for ex. Italians are more flexible, while Dutch are more punctual.
2. Conflicting Demands: people from different locations may have different priorities.

Paradigms

Because people of different countries now work together so easily, solutions are found more easily. This is because of the knowledge sharing that is increased so much. People have colleagues all over the world.
For people that work in multinationals, the boundaries of the multinationals are stronger than the boundaries of their countries. Because they work together with people all over the world on a daily, hourly basis, they form a bound with those people; a bound that is maybe stronger than the bound with their compatriots.
The world is now not only functioning as one global market, but also as one global place to get employed, as global research centers, as global companies (multinationals).

Experts

Grid Networks: a grid is a system that “coordinates resources that are not subject to centralized control, using standard open general purpose protocols and interfaces, to deliver non trivial quality of services”[1].Computers connected to a Grid network do not only share information, but also computer power, data storage elements, processing power and other resources. It will be like working on one supercomputer with indefinite computer power, storage, software and other resources.

Timing

People were already working together across physical geographic boundries far back in the history, even before there was internet. Look at the multinationals GE, Phylips etc. Back then there was more reluctance because it was not easy to communicate with each other across those boundaries.Now that the technology is so advanced that people across physical geographic boundaries can work together as if they are in the same room, we think that teamwork among those people will keep evolving, because of all the benefits that working together has.
Thus, working together across geographic boundaries has started a long time ago, but we think it will become more and more popular now.

References

[1] Ian Foster: What is the Grid? A Three Point Checklist, Argonne National Laboratory & University of Chicago, July 20, 2002