We are still working on it, but here is our start for an example of miscommunication:

http://www.brainhoney.com/lessondetails/4cdd2ba0f7cf4d4fb06af18b30cf310f

I just realized that I had not included Javier's email in the emails I sent out to the group for the entire last month! I know, I know - how could I have missed that? I don't know.

So here is the email that I sent to Diego and Javier today:

Hi Diego and Javier,

I made a big mistake. I just realized that I had not included Javier's email in the communication from the entire last month!
I feel very silly for having made such a big mistake.
No wonder your partnership has not done much!

Well, I suppose just simply do what you can. I know that time is
limited now, so feel free to do whatever your schedules and interests
allow - but please don't feel obligated to do any more than you (1) are
interested in, and (2) have time for.

If nothing else, it might be interesting for you to simply do the "meeting 1" exercise.

I am so sorry again. My brain must have been damaged in all the saunas here or something :)

All the very best,
Clint

Javier and I are working on collecting some of the information from literature about international virtual teams. You can see the google doc here:

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=dcp7kpgd_8dzmd9r&hl=en

Feel free to contribute to it as you will. :)

Hi all once again,

According to my calculations November is only
one week longer. Then basically there are only have two weeks in
December before the semester ends, so we only have about three weeks left where we are formally all together.

As I see none of the three groups have gotten as far as I hoped, I think I
will give you the option of shortening the previous assignment, if you
choose.

You can either decide to do what was previously outlined (in creating
lessons for each other, adjusting them, and trying them out on 3-5
people) or you can simply do the following:

1. Create together a short depiction of an example of cross-cultural miscommunication using some tool you pick ( e.g. BrainHoney, YouTube, Draw a Cartoon, Create a page on the research space, etc.). If
you feel inspired, you could also depict an invention (either tool or
technique) that would help people avoid that kind of miscommunication
in the future. Post what you create to the research space.
2. Answer a short questionnaire that I will send out early next week.

Diego and Javier, - I haven't seen you post your interaction
with each other yet. If you haven't been able to do the first meeting
yet, I highly recommend it. November is not over yet - and I think you
will enjoy it.

Minjuan - would you like to at least do the first activity with
someone? I think because you grew up in rural China, it would be very
interesting to get that data for the paper - and also for someone to
have that experience of interaction with you. I know you are busy, so
just let me know.

Because I wanted to get more data than only the three active
partnerships in our group - I have also assigned a creative problem
solving class here in Joensuu (which is made up of people from 12
different countries, I think) to also do the same activity that we are
doing. I will share that data with you as I get it. They are quite
excited about the assignment - and I think it will give us more to say.

By the first of December I will have an outline of a paper that we can
collaboratively write together using Google docs, and then our main
assignment for the two weeks of December will be in creating at least
one good draft of a paper to submit for publication.

We'll take things from there.

All the very best,
Clint

P.S. Don't forget the overarching questions for the partner activity.

Marcus (SL: Njiwamwitu Writer) and Sabine (SL: Willow Shenlin)’s meeting in SL –transcript 11/2/0/2007—
Note: the first 26 minutes were audio and chat. We moved to chat only in order to have a complete transcript of our conversation.
[8:20] Njiwamwitu Writer is Online
[8:24] Willow Shenlin: hi!
[8:24] Njiwamwitu Writer: Hi
[8:24] Willow Shenlin: I was just trying to find the questions on the wiki
[8:31] Willow Shenlin: http://www.eduisland.net/salamanderwiki
[8:35] Njiwamwitu Writer: 1st "meeting" - get to know each other through an activity that Javier and I developed (record this). - Follow-up assignment - listen to the recording and see if you learn anything new from listening to the conversation in retrospect. (Post what you learn on the research space) 2nd meeting - discuss initial ideas for answers to the assigned questions - Follow-up assignment - create a short piece of instruction (~5 minutes worth) using some tool ( e.g. BrainHoney) that you think will inspire your partner to be more interested in and capable of doing something to preserve the environment. (Post what you create on the research space) 3rd meeting - Share your lessons with each other and discuss. - Follow-up assignment - take your partners lesson and alter it to be something that you think would be more effective/inspiring for your context, from your point of view. (Post your adapted lesson and what you learn on the research space) 4th meeting - Share your revised lessons with each other and discuss. - Follow-
[8:35] Willow Shenlin: yes, but I was wondering about the questions that were asked in the Adobe Connect meeting
[8:36] Willow Shenlin: That's the activity that Clint mentions he developed with Javier
[8:36] Willow Shenlin: I emailed Clint to ask where he posted the audio recording of the Adobe meeting so that we could get those questions again
[8:39] Willow Shenlin: yes, looked like no one has posted anything either
[8:41] Willow Shenlin: to guess what our partner's childhood was like
[8:41] Willow Shenlin: and possibly and his/her favorite past-time was
[8:42] Willow Shenlin: There were 6 or 7 questions total...but I can't remember all of them
[8:42] Njiwamwitu Writer: what is past-time?
[8:42] Willow Shenlin: activity, hobby
[8:42] Njiwamwitu Writer: aha
[8:42] Willow Shenlin: ok, so if I have to guess yours.....
[8:43] Willow Shenlin: ok
[8:43] Willow Shenlin: great
[8:43] Willow Shenlin: yes
[8:43] Willow Shenlin: great
[8:44] Willow Shenlin: I don't see him as online on my Skype panel
[8:44] Willow Shenlin: but if he is, we should all use Skype talk to each other, even if he is not with us in SL
[8:46] Njiwamwitu Writer: sorry talking to him now
[8:46] Willow Shenlin: great
[8:46] Willow Shenlin: are you guys on Skype?
[8:46] Njiwamwitu Writer: 1. What kinds of things would your partner do for fun as a child? What kinds of things do you think they do for fun now? 2. List what you think might have been the main topics that were of concern for their community as they were growing up? 3. In the community that they were raised in, what were the three most important holidays, and what was the meaning behind these holidays for their family and community? 4. Who were the most respected and most trusted people in their community and why? 5. How do you think that the answers to each of these four questions would be different if your partner was raised in the same community you were raised in? (Answer each of the questions again, imagining that they were raised in the same community as you were.)
[8:46] Willow Shenlin: I'll be right back. Get some coffee
[8:47] Willow Shenlin: Oh that was fast
[8:47] Willow Shenlin: tell Clint that if he wants to talk with us, he can through Skype without having to log in SL
[8:47] Njiwamwitu Writer: any question for Clint?
[8:47] Willow Shenlin: no
[8:47] Njiwamwitu Writer: he has to leave now
[8:47] Willow Shenlin: ok
[8:47] Njiwamwitu Writer: ok
[8:51] Willow Shenlin: ok, here is a hint: I grew up in the countryside
[8:51] Willow Shenlin: in Normandy
[8:51] Njiwamwitu Writer: ok I grew up in a small Kenyan town
[8:52] Willow Shenlin: ok, so I'll guess that you enjoyed running through the streets playing soccer?
[8:52] Willow Shenlin: and that now, you play soccer still
[8:53] Njiwamwitu Writer: I think you climbed trees and milked your neighbors’ cows
[8:53] Willow Shenlin: LOL!!!!!! Almost!
[8:53] Willow Shenlin: I did climb trees!!
[8:53] Njiwamwitu Writer: now I think most of your fun is spending time with your kids and meeting up with new people in Second life
[8:54] Willow Shenlin: My aunt had a farm and she once showed me how to milk a cow by hand. Usually it was always a machine
[8:54] Willow Shenlin: Excellent guessing.
[8:54] Njiwamwitu Writer: I did not play much soccer and don't happen much these days but I did climb trees
[8:54] Willow Shenlin: You did?! Interesting. How big was the town?
[8:54] Willow Shenlin: what did it look like?
[8:55] Willow Shenlin: What language does Kenya speak?
[8:56] Njiwamwitu Writer: not sure how many people that lives in Migori I guess population is relatively big 100000 but still mostly farmers not living exactly in town which gives it a very small impression
[8:56] Willow Shenlin: ah....cow farmers, right?
[8:56] Njiwamwitu Writer: I grew up on a mission station where I run around and play with my sister, neighbors and all my pets.
[8:57] Willow Shenlin: what pets?
[8:57] Njiwamwitu Writer: dogs, cameleons, turtles, rabbits
[8:57] Willow Shenlin: wow.....busy house
[8:57] Njiwamwitu Writer: killed a dangerous snake every now and then
[8:57] Njiwamwitu Writer: they were all outdoor pets
[8:58] Willow Shenlin: ah.....I have a serious problem with snakes......mice no problem, snake big problem
[8:58] Willow Shenlin: we had some vipers during the summer in Normandy
[8:59] Njiwamwitu Writer: Where I stayed in Kenya Lou is the tribal language and think they have 26 different tribes with different languages but the national languages are English and Swahili
[8:59] Willow Shenlin: If they are outdoor pets, did you park them so that they don't run away?
[8:59] Njiwamwitu Writer: what is vipers?
[8:59] Willow Shenlin: Fascinating! That's the Babel thing all over, isn't it?
[9:00] Willow Shenlin: Vipers are small venomous snakes.
[9:00] Njiwamwitu Writer: I guess :-)
[9:00] Willow Shenlin: Their bites are really painful and the venin can be deadly
[9:00] Njiwamwitu Writer: aha, I don't like snakes either
[9:00] Willow Shenlin: So what do you do now?
[9:01] Willow Shenlin: Teach, study, social coffee and discussion with fellow researchers?
[9:01] Njiwamwitu Writer: I grew up not far from Masai Mara which is one of the world most famous national parks and you have probably seen a lot of wild animal programmes from there
[9:01] Willow Shenlin: Ah yes!
[9:01] Willow Shenlin: Very beautiful
[9:01] Njiwamwitu Writer: yes so it was always exciting to go there for a visit
[9:01] Willow Shenlin: And the Masai people are probably the most "obvious" ones on TV
[9:02] Willow Shenlin: In fact, is the Masai tribe in that area at all?
[9:02] Willow Shenlin: or just a geographical misnomer?
[9:03] Njiwamwitu Writer: Nowadays I play tennis, squash, volleyball communicate with my friends far away via MSN and Skype, have a beer or two in local pub
[9:03] Njiwamwitu Writer: Yes the Masai people live in and around masai mara
[9:03] Willow Shenlin: What's squash?
[9:04] Willow Shenlin: I only know the vegetable ;-)
[9:04] Njiwamwitu Writer: a racket sport where you play a ball against 4 walls
[9:04] Willow Shenlin: Ah yes!!! and everyone has goggles to protect their eyes, right?
[9:04] Njiwamwitu Writer: I guess some but have never used myself
[9:05] Willow Shenlin: ok, next question
[9:05] Willow Shenlin: 2. List what you think might have been the main topics that were of concern for their community as they were growing up?
[9:05] Y Willow Shenlin: Concerns of political nature maybe?
[9:06] Njiwamwitu Writer: I guess
[9:06] Willow Shenlin: I do not recall any historical facts about Kenya like in neighboring countries such as war
[9:06] Willow Shenlin: ok, how about your community in Kenya had concerns of water supply
[9:06] Njiwamwitu Writer: Uganda and Idi Amin was not far away
[9:06] Willow Shenlin: the farmers would really need water for the cattle to survive
[9:07] Willow Shenlin: ah yes
[9:07] Willow Shenlin: indeed
[9:07] Willow Shenlin: Were there problems of civil war in Kenya?
[9:08] Njiwamwitu Writer: farmers in France are always protesting against something so maybe they were throwing grapes at city major to drink more whine or to serve milk in the schools or... :)
[9:09] Willow Shenlin : Ahahaha!!!!!
[9:09] Willow Shenlin: They are protesting mainly against the price of milk
[9:09] Njiwamwitu Writer: water was a common problem where I grew up as it is a dry area and when rains are delayed people are suffering
[9:09] Willow Shenlin: They are getting a smaller and smaller piece of the pie and are not happy about it because keeping a farm up
[9:09] Willow Shenlin: and running is really difficult and financially tough
[9:10] Willow Shenlin: The summers like last year were terrible for our farmers in France
[9:10] Willow Shenlin: April was hot and sunny....too early for the summer. Usually April is a rainy month.
[9:10] Njiwamwitu Writer: do you come from a wine district?
[9:11] Willow Shenlin: but then everything started growing too fast
[9:11] Willow Shenlin: then the rains did not stop the whole 3 months of summer......spoiling everything
[9:11] Willow Shenlin: terrible.....lots of suicide....very sad
[9:11] Njiwamwitu Writer: what do they grow where you grew up?
[9:11] Willow Shenlin: no, Normandy is the apple cider and cheese region of France
[9:12] Willow Shenlin: wheat
[9:12] Willow Shenlin: some corn in the later years
[9:12] Willow Shenlin: (American influence on farming)
[9:12] Willow Shenlin: oat
[9:12] Willow Shenlin: mainly dairy farmers
[9:12] Willow Shenlin: so Normandy has about 100 different cheese
[9:13] Njiwamwitu Writer: in Migori it was basically maize, tomatoes, pineapple, papaya... but a lot of sugarcanes as they have an sugar industry there
[9:13] Willow Shenlin: not counting the yogurts, heavy cream, etc
[9:13] Willow Shenlin: mmmmm, we grow green beans in Normandy
[9:13] Njiwamwitu Writer: aha so a cheese paradise, what is your favorite cheese?
[9:13] Willow Shenlin: arggggg......even in my mom's little garden.....I ate too much green beans when i was a kid
[9:14] Willow Shenlin: I love goat cheese, mild, toasted on fresh bread....yummy!
[9:14] Willow Shenlin: what was your favorite dish?
[9:14] Njiwamwitu Writer: I made a special order when having a Finnish visitor of Aora Blue Cheese from Finland it is just excellent, still have some left
[9:15] Willow Shenlin: Aora blue cheese.....that's a local cheese too?
[9:16] Njiwamwitu Writer: My favorite dish that I had a lot when I grew up was kuku and ugali which was like a chicken stew with a thick maize porridge
[9:16] Willow Shenlin: ah, I've seen that porridge....in a documentary about the children of Zaire
[9:17] Njiwamwitu Writer: today I eat a lot of Thai and Indian food
[9:17] Willow Shenlin: ah? I cook a lot ....so we ate a mainly what we are familiar with from back home
[9:18] Willow Shenlin: also I cook a few things from Normandy....also it is a bit more "Mediterranean" than the original Norman food
[9:18] Njiwamwitu Writer: watched a movie yesterday and thought about you...
[9:18] Njiwamwitu Writer: Michael Moores’ Sicko :-)
[9:18] Willow Shenlin: my husband loves pasta....his grandma was from Bologna...so he cooks pasta all the time
[9:18] Willow Shenlin: ah Michael MOore...
[9:19] Willow Shenlin: the poor guy is really a target for American "patriots"
[9:19] Willow Shenlin: I did not see that movie
[9:19] Willow Shenlin: that's the one about the medical system in the USA
[9:19] Willow Shenlin: right?
[9:19] Njiwamwitu Writer: He goes to Canada, UK, France and Cuba and compares the health system with US
[9:19] Willow Shenlin: He was on Oprah with a couple of people from the health system...for all of them to defend their views. very hot discussion.
[9:20] Willow Shenlin: mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, i bet the US is not happy to see themselves compared to a communist system like Cuba
[9:20] Willow Shenlin: even though it is the most efficient health system I've heard of
[9:20] Njiwamwitu Writer: was quite funny when he took 9/11 fire fighters declined medical care in US to get treated for free in Cuba
[9:20] Willow Shenlin: France's getting in deep trouble. no more money
[9:21] Willow Shenlin: wow!!!!!!i did not know that!
[9:21] Willow Shenlin: no wonder they are not mentioning this on the news here
[9:21] Njiwamwitu Writer: it is worth watching
[9:21] Willow Shenlin: I’ll look it up
[9:22] Willow Shenlin: 3. In the community that they were raised in, what were the three most important holidays, and what was the meaning behind these holidays for their family and community?
[9:23] Willow Shenlin: In the US, the African American community makes a big deal of ......ah, brain freeze...what's the name
[9:23] Willow Shenlin: i was going to ask if it is the same holiday in Petroria
[9:23] Willow Shenlin: Kwanza?
[9:24] Njiwamwitu Writer: In my family as well as in the community which is mostly Christian the biggest holidays was Christmas and Easter. I guess in Kenya independence day is big as well but for us Swedes midsummer is probably third biggest
[9:24] You: midsummer? tell more?
[9:25] You: teh Equinox? you celebrate teh equinox?
[9:26] Njiwamwitu Writer: longest day of the year and we dress a pole with flowers and dance around it. Ladies pick seven different kinds of flowers and put under the pillow to drem of their future prince
[9:26] You: was it easy to do this in Kenya?
[9:26] Njiwamwitu Writer: Equinox I do not know what it is
[9:27] Njiwamwitu Writer: not really but only spent 6 of my first nine years in Kenya and stayed in sweden for some years before getting back for last two years of high school
[9:27] Willow Shenlin: a lot of traveling.
[9:28] Willow Shenlin: we French are traditionally not so .....travelers
[9:28] Willow Shenlin: it takes my parents 6 months to organize a one month trip to the States :-)
[9:28] Njiwamwitu Writer: :) so what was your most important holidays?
[9:29] Willow Shenlin: In my community, the biggest holidays were also Christmas and Easter
[9:29] Willow Shenlin: Catholics
[9:29] Willow Shenlin: August was the month of the Virgin...so it had some special masses for it
[9:29] Willow Shenlin: But mainly Catholic holidays. Nothing regional or ancient
[9:30] Njiwamwitu Writer: I remember my father always organized a projector and generator and showed people the Jesus movie during Christmas and it was always interesting as many people had never seen a movie before and really got into it and people were crying and screaming...
[9:30] Willow Shenlin: Ah! Another big one was Kings' day. My family is big so we would all gather at my grandma's house after church and eat rice pudding and a special bread
[9:31] Willow Shenlin: goodness.....we do take a lot for granted.
[9:31] Willow Shenlin: was your father a missionary?
[9:31] Njiwamwitu Writer: yes he is a pastor and was a missionary
[9:32] Willow Shenlin: from Sweden...and then to South Africa? goodness...what an intriguing life.
[9:32] Willow Shenlin: 4. Who were the most respected and most trusted people in their community and why?
[9:33] Willow Shenlin: I’d guess that your dad would have been the most respected person in your community then
[9:35] Njiwamwitu Writer: I think pastors and bishops are very respected as religion is important. Also members of parliament and local decision makers. Age brings a lot of respect in the culture and older people always showed great respect. Also traditional healers have a lot of influence although by “us” missionaries viewed with big skepticism :)
[9:35] Willow Shenlin: in my community, i think that it was the old priest. It was a time when villages did not worry about strangers and violent events...so most adults were getting along just fine
[9:35] Willow Shenlin: mmm, yes.
[9:35] Willow Shenlin :I agree. same situation in my village
[9:36] Willow Shenlin: I was raised on a 300 people village (not counting the cows:-))
[9:36] Njiwamwitu Writer: hehe
[9:36] Willow Shenlin: So the mayor and the priest were major authorities
[9:36] Willow Shenlin: then the butcher and the baker
[9:37] Willow Shenlin: We had an equivalent to a healer in the village.....but the Church has done too much harm for the healer to be respected.
[9:37] Njiwamwitu Writer: I have met similar comments in South Africa with the difference that they do not count the blacks which sometimes makes this country a very uncomfortable country to live in
[9:38] Willow Shenlin: also a lot of people who go and see him to adjust a shoulder, a back, a headache.....kind of a chiropractor with some other medicinal skills
[9:38] Njiwamwitu Writer: the butcher that is interesting
[9:38] Willow Shenlin: ouch.....I am still trying to understand the "not count the blacks"
[9:39] Njiwamwitu Writer: in Sweden the worst thing you can say is that you are a pastor
[9:39] Willow Shenlin: it seems so .....unreal
[9:39] Willow Shenlin: no way!
[9:39] Willow Shenlin: in Sweden? why?
[9:39] Njiwamwitu Writer: It is very taboo to mention even religion in a Swedish context and I was sometimes mocked for having a father who was pastor
[9:40] Njiwamwitu Writer: we are not a very religious kind
[9:40] Willow Shenlin: So, .....what world view does the Swedish people hold?
[9:41] Willow Shenlin: Sweden has a royal family, no?
[9:41] Willow Shenlin: I am asking because usually royal family hold some religious power (at least in most European histories)
[9:42] Njiwamwitu Writer: majority would probably say that they do not believe in God, officially we are a protestant country but most people tend to think that religion is bogus
[9:42] Willow Shenlin: interesting
[9:42] Njiwamwitu Writer: yes we have a royal family
[9:43] Willow Shenlin: but the royal family does not make any part in religion, then i guess
[9:43] Njiwamwitu Writer: especially younger generation
[9:44] Willow Shenlin: ah yes, same problem in France to
[9:44] Njiwamwitu Writer: they are not allowed to talk either politics or religion we like them as puppies travelling the world and selling Sweden
[9:44] Willow Shenlin: the younger generation is a lot more critical of the Church's bloody historical past and current blunders, and refuse to see it in any political involvement
[9:46] Njiwamwitu Writer: I guess but think in Southern Europe and especially US going to church or Cathedral is something normal in Sweden it is not
[9:46] Willow Shenlin: In fact, I agree with this and it tends to get in my face when i see the church in the US trying to convince their members to vote differently based on their leader's opinions
[9:46] Willow Shenlin: yes, interesting point.
[9:47] Willow Shenlin: maybe the comparison would be that if you are a French employee of the government (police man, etc...) you are not allowed to demonstrate your religious affiliation (i.e., no necklace with a cross, etc...)
[9:47] Willow Shenlin: ok...5. How do you think that the answers to each of these four questions would be different if your partner was raised in the same community you were raised in?
[9:47] Willow Shenlin: actually i am not sure. my little village was a bit reticent with its fist inhabitant of color
[9:48] Willow Shenlin: I remember especially because I became very good friend with their daughter.
[9:48] Njiwamwitu Writer: I think I would stereotype less and maybe more detailed as more points of reference would be the same :)
[9:48] Willow Shenlin: yes. It is interesting
[9:49] Willow Shenlin: despite the geographical remoteness of our "villages" the human experience seems to repeat itself
[9:49] Willow Shenlin: religion, politics, family, water/food
[9:50] Willow Shenlin: ok, let me copy this and I'll email you the transcript shortly

I thought it was a good meeting. We tried to use Connect, then Skype, but Temtim said that the whole country of Ethiopia only had 56MB of bandwidth at the time, so we resorted to communicating through Skype Chat and a couple follow-up emails. I will attach the transcript of our meeting in the first comment to this blog entry.

In preparation for your first meeting activity with your
partner, do your best to guess what life has been like for your partner.

Do your best to
answer these questions:

1. What kinds of things would your partner do for fun as a
child? What kinds of things do you think they do for fun now?

2. List what you think might have been the main topics that
were of concern for their community as they were growing up?

3. In the community that they were raised in, what were the
three most important holidays, and what was the meaning behind these holidays
for their family and community?

4. Who were the most respected and most trusted people in
their community and why?

5. How do you think that the answers to each of these four
questions would be different if your partner was raised in the same community
you were raised in? (Answer each of the questions again, imagining that they
were raised in the same community as you were.)

Decide the best way to communicate with your partner in a
way that you can record your
communication (IM, Skype, Adobe Connect, Google Talk, etc). Share your
answers to the questions with each other, and see how close you were to
guessing correctly.

Post your answers and things you learned from the discussion to the
research space.

Follow-up assignment
- listen to the recording of your discussion some time over the next couple
days and see if you learn anything new from listening to the conversation in
retrospect.

• Is
  there anything your partner said that perhaps you didn’t really understand
  as you listen to your conversation again?
• Is
  there anything that you think maybe your partner didn’t catch from what
  you meant when you said certain things?
• Listening
  to the conversation again and thinking in retrospect, are there any
  addition questions you would have liked to ask?
• Is
  there anything new that you learn from listening to your conversation
  again later?

Post what your answers to these questions and what you learned on the
research space.

From Temtim:

Hi Clint

It is nice to start the virtual global team in new
form.

I will try to answer the two questions>

Question 1 - what type of miscommunication ...

I personally accostomed with more structured project
activities. I am more comfortable with more structured
activities for our Virtual team. I am new to the
research topic, when I joined the team I am expecting
to learn more from you as well as from others.
Unfortunately while we are on the process, I feel that
our team doesnot have very clear direction and
expected outputs. As a result communication among the
team members was limited.

The problem - what I learnt- our expectation to get
from this project can not match with each other -
diversified needs. As a result our effort could not be
channeled to one direction and output. As a result,
commitments are gradually getting fade away.

Question 2 - What tools

I don't think that it is a problem of technology. The
poor communication among the team falls on other
aspects - on social aspects of the team. In this
regard it is good to look at Structuration model of
technology by Orlikwiski (1992). We can design very
nice communication network but it does not bring
effective communicaiton among the team. Whether we use
Skype or Adobe Connect, if we have the real need to
communicate with each other, the available
technologies can satisfy our needs.

Best regards
Temtim

From Clint:

 Hi Temtim,

I realized I never sent you an email with my initial ideas for these
two questions. Here they are - and I will post both of our responses to
the research space.

1. What types of miscommunication can occur within international virtual teams?

Obviously on a basic level people need to be able to share a common language or have some reliable translation source.
I think you are right about the purposes and objectives need to be as
clear as possible - and that can be helpful in reducing
miscommunication.
I put down in the examples that miscommunication might occur when
people do not share common assumptions. By assumptions, I mean the
things that are usually assumed - without us necessarily being
conscious that we even assume them. This can include assumptions about:

• content - (the substance of what is being talked about. With any
  number of topics, people make assumptions about their importance and
  meaning. As an easy example, if I talk about "Benedict Arnold" most
  U.S. citizens would know what I was talking about. Many things related
  to history, culture, business, media, and even education often carry
  assumptions that are not shared throughout the world)
• context - (by this, I mean that even the content can mean
  different things, depending on the context it is framed in. There are
  many subtle and strong assumption tied with context that can easily go
  unrecognized by either the sender or receiver, and so thus engendering
  miscommunication)
• relationships - (I think this is a big one too. Very frequently
  assumptions exist regarding the way people see their relationships with
  others (teachers, students, friends, strangers, colleagues, business
  men, politicians, etc...), and set their expectations accordingly. When
  the reality of the other persons actions does not match your
  expectations (or even if it does, but for different reasons), then it
  is easy to see how miscommunication (by that I mean misunderstanding)
  can occur).
• what establishes trust/credibility - (in Japan, for example, you
  establish credibility in giving a speech by first telling the audience
  that you do not know very much and apologizing for taking their time.
  If you were Japanese and took that same approach in the U.S. or much of
  Europe, you would not get the trust that you expected)
• what grabs attention - (in Chinese web sites there is a lot of
  motion, sounds and moving things. People in the U.S. automatically see
  that as poor design, reminding them of amature earlier websites in the
  US. There is evidence, however, that Chinese users might actually
  prefer these designs - that they are better at grabbing and keeping
  attention, when that probably would not be the case in the U.S.)

2. What (a) techniques and (b) technological tools (both existing
and ones we can imagine) improve collaborations of international
virtual teams?
(e.g. reducing miscommunication by attributing
correct meaning to actions/words of others, establishing trust, even
fostering innovation and inspiration)

• I think that perhaps more time needs to be spent up-front in
  people getting to know and trust each other? There must be some
  understanding that people really care about each other - and are
  willing to put the interests of the other and understanding and
  respecting the other people as priority.
• There are already quite a few existing tools which make
  international collaboration so much easier than it would have been even
  5 or 10 years ago. E-mail, VOIP (voice over IP) tools like Skype, and
  computer sharing platforms (like Adobe Connect) - all increase the
  ability to make contact and communicate with people all over the world.
  The biggest issues with many of the existing tools I think maybe are
  bandwidth and cost (both of which deal with access).
• I would like to see more tools that allow for meta-communication
  - allowing for further questioning, explaining, and talking about the
  meaning behind what has been said by either party in a conversation.
• I think if there was some knowledge base of common
  mis-communication, then perhaps a system could tag information sharing
  in a way that would indicate it needs further discussion.
• I also think that as bandwidth increases, the current mode of
  writing will more easily expand to sharing visual images together, and
  that will stimulate interesting interactions.
• Any time that interactions can be recorded, I think that would
  help people to go back and reflect on their own and others' comments
  and reactions.
• The easier it is for people to take things and adapt them, I
  think the more valuable those tools will be in international contexts.
• Ultimately I don't think any tools will help if people do not
  have any reason to trust or respect others. I consider that a
  pre-requisite for any existing or future tools being of value.

Well, those are some of my initial thoughts of the top of my head. Any comments in reaction to them?

Thanks,
Clint

Hi Sabine,

Congratulations to the naturalization convocation! Seems we are a team for this month. Hope all is well with you? I am doing fine here in Pretoria where sun is shining most of the time. I will share a moment that affected me this week:

On Sunday I was driving and a car deliberatly tried to crash into my car - very scary. I am not sure what his intension was (maybe stealing the car), think he got upset for some strange reason and decided to teach me a lesson. However I managed to avoid crashing into him or anyone else but it scared the shit out of me.

1. What types of miscommunication can occur within international virtual teams?
I believe a miscommunication can happen for endless of reasons. I will try to list a few:
- Problems of expressing ourselves clear enough, this is a problem even in face-to-face teams but at least then it is easier to read between the lines through body language etc. Language and the use of the language is also a barrier. Often when we meet someone it is not primary from the words that we draw our conclusion of that person intensions but from the whole appearance. Is this person excited, happy, worried or trustworthy the eyes or the smile might tell... This usually not comes through with only text and only to some extent with voice.
- Culture, for instance some cultures is very straight to the point while other walk around the bush before getting to the point. What is unaccepted behavior in one culture might be normal practice in an other.
- We are all coloured of the world surrounding us, if other persons world looks different we might not be able to find explanations that make sense outside own context
- Methods for Building trust/credibility might be different, personally I think it is important to see a person behind the words to gain trust. Maybe when we think we are building trust it might have opposite effect.

2. What (a) techniques and (b) technological tools (both existing and ones we
can imagine) improve collaborations of international virtual teams?
a) Showing and explaining own world, finding common entry points, building a relation before getting to "business", finding out intensions/why
b) I think any tool that can capture as much as possible of a face-to-face interaction where as many senses as possible are captured, maybe even smell?

/Marcus

Hi everyone in the IMPDET Cross-Cultural Research Group,

First, let me share a bit of good news - an editor from a top journal
somehow already found out about our group and specifically requested that we
submit an article about our experience. Two professors at different
universities have also contacted me to request more information about our
project. Those things are always encouraging - and indicate the value in what
we are doing.

Next, I wanted to touch base with the plans for the month of November. An
outline of our interaction is included in this email, although more detailed
instruction/ideas will be given next week. Please read this email carefully,
and email me with any questions or concerns that you might have.

Partners
Each of you will be assigned a partner to collaborate together for the month of
November.
Sabine & Marcus (Sabine - are you OK? - I haven't heard from you and I am
worried about your condition)
Javier & Diego
Clint & Temtim
(and depending on their access/availability either Esko & Adele, if they
can and would like to, or a new student named Patrizia who has also expressed
interest in joining us)
(Minjuan is in Micronesia with very bad Internet access for the next month)

Questions
With your partner you will work together on these specific questions:
1. What types of miscommunication can occur within international virtual teams?

(e.g. not sharing a common language, not sharing common assumptions about:
content, context, relationships, what establishes trust/credibility, what grabs
attention, etc...)
2. What (a) techniques and (b) technological tools (both existing and ones we
can imagine) improve collaborations of international virtual teams?
(e.g. reducing miscommunication by attributing correct meaning to actions/words
of others, establishing trust, even fostering innovation and inspiration)

This week - please email your partner with you initial answers for these
questions (and go to the research space and post a blog entry of your email) .

Collaboration with Partner
Pick which tools work best for you (IM, Skype, Adobe Connect, SecondLife, etc.)
and record all the meetings in some format for future use. You will choose the
days that work best for you during the month to virtually meet with each other,
but I would suggest you plan out the whole month from the begining so you know
what to expect. I encourage you to contact your partner ASAP to get an idea of
their schedule, and what tools would work best in communicating with them.Your
collaboration will look something like this:

1st "meeting" - get to know each other through an activity that
Javier and I developed (record this).
- Follow-up assignment - listen to the recording and see if you learn
anything new from listening to the conversation in retrospect. (Post what you
learn on the research space)

2nd meeting - discuss initial ideas for answers to the assigned
questions
- Follow-up assignment - create a short piece of instruction (~5 minutes
worth) using some tool ( e.g. BrainHoney) that you think will inspire your
partner to be more interested in and capable of doing something to preserve the
environment. (Post what you create on the research space)

3rd meeting - Share your lessons with each other and discuss.
- Follow-up assignment - take your partners lesson and alter it to be
something that you think would be more effective/inspiring for your context,
from your point of view. (Post your adapted lesson and what you learn on the
research space)

4th meeting - Share your revised lessons with each other and discuss.
- Follow-up assignment - take both versions of the lesson and show them
to 3-5 other people in your area, and get their feedback. (Post what you learn
on the research space)

5th meeting - Reflection on your two assigned research questions. How
effective was your communication with each other? What seemed to be difficult?
What tools and/or techniques did you use which seemed to help? What do you wish
you had that would help even more?
- Follow-up assignment - Draft a section of a joint paper that we will
write on this topic. (Post this on the research space)

Conference call
We will have a conference call on this upcoming Thursday (Nov. 8th) to discuss
this assignment in more detail and to answer any questions/concerns etc.

• Finland - 6:00pm
• Addis Ababa - 7:00pm
• Pretoria - 6:00pm
• Utah - 9:00am
• California - 8:00am

Don't worry - I checked World Clock Meeting Planner to make
sure the correct times ( http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meetingtime.html?month=11&day=8&year=2007&pa=7&pa=101&pa=269&pa=220&pa=770)
We will use Adobe Connect again, and as a back-up I will also have my Skype and
email open - to try and help answer any problems that might arise.

All the very best,
Clint

Recording from last conference call (although it was a very scattered
conversation and mainly getting to know the tool):

http://connectpro64128288.emea.acrobat.com/p84129603/