Interacting Effectively in International Virtual Offices

Communication technologies are continually changing ideas of the “office.” One of the most interesting of these developments is the virtual office—a setting where individuals in different places use online media to collaborate on projects. Recent trends, furthermore, indicate knowledge workers will become increasingly involved in international virtual offices (IVOs) where they interact with coworkers in different countries. Such environments, however, can intensify problems related to cultural communication expectations. Employees must therefore understand how cultural factors can affect online discourse if they wish to work successfully in IVOs. This essay examines three IVO-related problem areas: contact, status, and language.