The open source movement has made a colossal impact on the software industry, especially in the development of virtual organizations. Markus, Manville & Agres (2000) identify that high-tech companies are facing talent wars since people value their autonomy and time over receiving high wages. Therefore, other companies have been forced to adjust to working with employees that are talented and digitalized through virtual organizations. Virtual managers should thus ensure that they provide the necessary motivations, processes and practices to their staff in the virtual organizations.
Managers should create a conducive environment to ensure that all the team members can freely access data and information that is essential for effective employee performance. For virtual organizations, the managers should facilitate platforms that enable the employees to inspect any work that has been done as well as provide necessary contribution that will further improve the work. The managers should also ensure that the virtual platforms facilitate peer review by all the employees that are within the system.
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Open source model allows self-selection of responsibilities and tasks. This is a valuable aspect of virtual organization. Virtual managers should facilitate free selection of tasks by the team members. This action will enable the employees to choose tasks that they are positive they can handle effectively. Self-selection of tasks ensures that the employees will be able to deliver high quality work on time.
Open source model also facilitates early and fast feedback. According to Årdal, Alstadsæter & Røttingen (2011), open source model promotes innovation that has the ability to create market leaders. As a leader, the virtual manager should ensure that the employees receive frequent and early updates on the current state of the organization. Such information may include the performance of the organization as well as correction on mistakes that occur within the team.
In sum, the emergence of virtual organizations as a concept has led to the creation of many tools that promote and support this concept. The open source movement has done a tremendous job in developing software that are used in virtual organizations. Open source software such as the Linux operating system and the Apache web server are essential in helping virtual managers to work together effectively with their staff.
References
Markus, L., Manville, B., & Agres, C. E. (2000, October 15). What Makes a Virtual Organization Work: Lessons From the Open-Source World. Retrieved from https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/what-makes-a-virtual-organization-work-lessons-from-the-opensource-world/
Årdal, C., Alstadsæter, A., & Røttingen, J. (2011). Common characteristics of open source software development and applicability for drug discovery: a systematic review. Health Research Policy and Systems , 9 (1). doi:10.1186/1478-4505-9-36
