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Northouse, Leadership 8e
SAGE Publications, 2019
Case 14.1: Can This Virtual Team Work?
Case Synopsis and Analysis
Jim Towne heads a newly formed virtual information technology team tasked with
developing and implementing technology innovations for all global units of a major
corporation. Twenty professionals work on the team. Most of the work is done virtually,
although the team has had two face-to-face sessions.
Team members like their assignments, respect each other, and enjoy being part of the team.
However, they have had some difficulty getting off the ground and are overworked and
overwhelmed. Most team members travel extensively and find the travel only sets them
further behind at work. Jim is under great pressure to prove that the team can work and
provide value to the company.
Students will recognize some of the challenges of leading teams when reading the case study.
Leading virtual teams is a particularly daunting task and one that could lead to interesting
discussion in class.
Learning objectives:
• Students will be able to apply the eight characteristics of team excellence to a team.
• Students will be able to apply functions that a leader should implement to improve a
team.
Answers to questions in the text:
1. Which of the eight characteristics of team excellence are lacking in this team?
The eight characteristics of team excellence are clear, elevating goal, results-driven
structure, competent team members, unified commitment, collaborative climate,
standards of excellence, external support and recognition, and principled leaders.
Jim’s team seems to have clear goals, a results-driven structure, competent team
members, unified commitment, and standards of excellence. However, the team lacks
Northouse, Leadership 8e
SAGE Publications, 2019
2. Based on this analysis of team effectiveness, should Jim intervene at this time, or
should he just keep monitoring the team? If you think he should take action, at what
level should he intervene (internal or external)? If internal, should his action be task
or relational?
Most students will argue that Jim should intervene. The team members are struggling
and find it difficult to complete their work. There need to be some internal and
external changes to help the team function better and achieve its goals.
3. What specific leadership functions should Jim implement to improve the team? Why?
The best goals, team members, and commitment will not mean much if there is no
money, equipment, or supplies for accomplishing the goals. As mentioned above, Jim
Northouse, Leadership 8e
SAGE Publications, 2019
Potential teaching approaches:
Below is a way to structure a class based on Team Leadership and Case Study 14.1:
• Discuss students’ experiences with teamwork and have them create a list pursuant to
Exercise 1 below.
• Hold a lecture on teamwork, and discuss the differences between students’ lists and
the eight characteristics of team excellence.
• Ask students to read Case 14.1 and answer the questions.
• Discuss questions in the case study as a class.
• Finally, the professor may choose to conduct in-class exercises listed below.
Exercises for this case study:
1) As a class, the professor should ask students to consider teamwork: When did they
serve on a team, what was it like, and so on. The professor should ask if anyone
worked on a very efficient team. If a student raises his/her hand, the professor should
2) Role-play: Students play the part of Jim and a few key team members. Together, they
discuss what needs to happen in order for the team to run more efficiently. They
Northouse, Leadership 8e
SAGE Publications, 2019
3) Ask students to write a brief essay (200–250 words) related to the pros and cons of
