Abstract:

The traditional way of working has undergone a transformation due to the rapid pace of globalization and digitization. As a result, a new workplace phenomenon has emerged, where businesses and projects are shifting towards virtual environments and forming virtual teams. Virtual international project teams have become a crucial aspect of many businesses today. Bringing together professionals from different countries requires not only excellent managerial skills but also strong leadership abilities. Additionally, effective teamwork plays a vital role in virtual teams, necessitating an understanding of collaboration practices and the ability to participate effectively in project teamwork processes. The empirical qualitative interview based research was made involving 10 leaders of international virtual project teams working in high tech companies which are coordinated from Lithuania. Selection of experts was based on the following criteria: experts should be leading international project teams working together at least for one year, virtual mode of working should dominate over other modes of working, the implemented projects should be of complex nature and duration of the projects should be no less than one year. Aim of the research was to establish the essential competencies necessary for effective work of international virtual project teams. The data of research indicated that on the bases of the main challengers arising for the international virtual project teams following competences are considered the most important and helpful for successful project implementation: building trust and open communication, adaptability, flexibility, empathy, effective time management, timing and self discipline, leveraging technology. It was also established that additional specific list of competencies were important for the leaders of international virtual project teams.

Keywords:

Competencies development, virtual project team.