Managing Virtual Teams in Software Projects through Social Media: A Multi-case Approach

The use of social media tools among the members of the software project deployment teams have evolved as one of the emerging disruptive technologies enhancing data sharing and reduces asynchronous communication thus replacing older brick and mortar information technology infrastructure gradually. The strength of the virtual workforce is continuously increasing where the projects are outsourced or the organization supporting work from home culture is garnering a favorable response in India as well. Robust software companies with a workforce spread across different offshore locations find it a task to establish a real-time communication window across teams and ensure committed delivery. This paper discusses the application of social media as an important communication tool over a collaborative platform in four top of the line software development companies with global presence highlighting the challenges pertaining to internal collaboration, seamless and low cost focused communication faced by the global online workforce and its subsequent solution leading to successful implementation. These companies have exemplified the use of social media as a low-cost strategic tool to manage the virtual teams deployed in the software development projects across different locations.