Lesson 4 Overview: Globalization & Communication and Knowledge Sharing

Globalization, new media, smart machines, and global connectivity are changing how we think about work and where we work. They are also changing the skills you will need to be productive contributors (Davies et al., 2011). This lesson will look at the implications of globalization on communication, including intercultural barriers, effective virtual teaming, and factors related to knowledge management and sharing on virtual teams such as knowledge integration, groupthink, and the collective mind.

Learning Objectives

Upon conclusion of this lesson, you should be able to

1. identify and resolve communication challenges working on intercultural teams;
2. identify and address knowledge management challenges on virtual teams;
3. explain what is meant by group think, global consciousness, and the global brain and their effect on virtual teams;
4. implement best practices for effective virtual teams; and
5. identify characteristics of Turkey's culture.

Lesson Reading Assignments

Please complete the other assigned readings prior to reading the lesson commentary.

• Rosen, B., Furst, S., Blackburn, R. (2007). Overcoming barriers to knowledge sharing in virtual teams. Organizational Dynamics, 36(3) 259–273.
• Turkey chapter from Textbook 1
• Lesson Commentary

Lesson Activities

This lesson has:

• Two (2) Journal Entries
• Lesson Reading Quiz
• Two Discussion Forums:
  • News Presentation Forum
  • Communication Discussion Forum
• Language Quiz: Turkish