International Virtual Teamwork at
Hochschule Anhalt

Dr. Sheb True and Dr. Elke Leeds quoted in an article in Germany on the KSU-Anhalt University partnership and joint virtual-course projects. German version here.

Dr Leeds was quoted again in Germany on the KSU-Anhalt University partnership here.

On October 5, 2009, under the direction of Prof. Dr. Kashtanova,  Agriculture, Oekotrophology and International Business Professor, a video conference was held to discuss and evaluate the success of an “International Project Management and Global Virtual Teaming” course. Seven students from the Hochschule Anhalt and four students from the Kennesaw State University in the USA met with their professors on the television screen to exchange their experiences. All of them took part of this project with more students in the summer 2009. They enrolled in a course that combined International Business, E-teaming, and Inter-cultural communication in an online environment.

As the American students appeared on the T.V. screen, all students greeted each other warmly. The students exchanged the results of their business concepts which dealt with the market entrance strategies of special products in a country, for example the sale of biodiesel in Chile, the marketing of Bionade in South Africa or the establishment of a solar energy production in India. The concepts were developed in small international teams, whose members were very different regarding age, educational background as well as cultural and lingual. The only common basis was a beginning Online-Study about project management with lectures and assignments

Not only did the students participate in intensive discussion with complex themes of the global enterprise and the creation of useable economy concepts within a week, but they also had special challenges in the building of processes and communication organizations. “How do I communicate with someone at the other end of the world, who wants to go to sleep when I am getting up?” Seldom, all of the team members met together online. The information exchange happened often between few people and still all had to be informed.

Early preparation, project status up-dates, and continuous involvement are necessary to do well in this environment. Prof. Dr. Elke Leeds of Kennesaw State University stressed that this was a successful simulation of a life-like business situation. It mirrors the speed of industry. People need to move fast, communicate often, and results delivered quickly and accurately.

 The students have learned several things: to bring opposites into agreements, to expect the unexpected, to find the project goal, to stay with it and above all to apply practical knowledge, in order to solve the problems. “On-the-fly-working –spontaneous and direct- that I liked” adds to the group. The American student Malenia Calhoun answered”…but to also have time to think about something is important”

The access to real projects and life situations widens the own horizon, liberates strengths, but also points to ones own weaknesses. Many students are surprised about the quality they have reached – not without intensive nurturing.  They also recognized the difficulties in the formal process as well as with themselves. They were able to watch their own reactions and those of others in changing occurrences.

Also the understanding of languages and the mix between the project, the business branch, and the personal lives of the members presented an important point of discussion Vernacular- and slang language can lead to funny situations and Aha- effects. This made a distinct impression. Students can overcome language barriers through concrete language knowledge and through the joint idea of a communication- the mutual understanding on a deeper basis.

Prof. Elena Kashtanova added the results: “About the increasing transatlantic cooperation –the working together between America and Europe – much is talked about. This project was helpful in testing the existing demands and to change them to advantages”. With that she not only meant the enormous learning effect for the students, but also for the nurturing professors. Sheb True, Professor for Marketing and Associate Dean of Graduate Business & Executive Programs in the Coles College of Business emphasized that the Hochschule Anhalt represents a strategic partner to the Kennesaw State University who itself would like to expand the internationality. New, future oriented forms of online and international studies were accomplished with the Hochschule Anhalt.

This pilot project, which was awarded the “Tommy and Beth Holder Faculty Award” for innovation in the teaching at the Kennesaw State University  represents synergistic effects and furthering more necessary global interactions. The only small detriment: “online we cannot drink a beer together”.