Hey guys, that's why I created www.onthesystem.com. Virtual teams are the future. All that's needed are more effective ways to communicate, coordinate and collaborate. I believe with the right web-based tools virtual teams can change the world.

Absolutely. Remote shouldn't mean isolation. 90 % of my teams interaction is through web meetings. Every 6 months we will get together for an in person event and it's great to see the people behind the voice. To build a team you need to keep people connected NOT isolated.

I agree.  The key is maintaining the common purpose, inspiration and support.  Too often teams lose the inspiration that brought them together in the first place. 

This is really a question of "against what odds?" With common purpose, inspiration, and support you can build a successful team under any situation.

Technology brings people together if the right technology is used.

I think it is, as long as the people involved are also connected in ways not directly related to their jobs (for example, social networks, twitter, reading each other's blogs, other outside projects, etc).

I think it is difficult. The need for human contact and interaction is still critical for team building. It cannot be done only in email, phone calls and video conferencing. Every once in a while physical meetings are important for that pat on the back, a handshake and sharing someone's physical space while in conversation.

Working as we do, so far from our home planet of Offyd, we have some experience of this question.

Assuming we are talking about international teams here (one member in the US, one in France, two in Japan etc.) there are several prerequisites for success:

1. You need sxcellent communication systems (phone, telephone/visual links, email, instant messaging etc.)

2. All members should be proficient in a common language (often - though not always - English.)If they are not, the team leader should ensure that those without the right level of language skills receive the appropriate info. in their own language , and/or that native language speakers simplify their language so eveyone understands them.

3. The team needs a strong team leader with great inter-personal, communication and inter-cultural skills.He/she should ensure that in the (virtual) meetings everyone gets to speak (not just the ones with the loudest voices) and that every week it's not the same person who has to get up in the middle of the night to attend the weekly meeting.(Terrestrial time differences are a pain.)

4.Earthling humans are just half an evolutionary step away from the apes - so ideally they should meet face to face to build inter-personal contacts (shake each others' hands, share a meal, gossip , and perhaps indulge in a little mutual grooming.)

Yes, collaboration can be more efficient.

yes altho I work as a print consultant I have individuals I can Use