First lecture offers professionals tangible ways to improve online and hybrid teams

United Arab Emirates -  December 20, 2020:    Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, a Qatar Foundation partner university,  launched Community Partner Lectures, a virtual series featuring CMU-Q’s faculty experts in the areas of business, science and technology.  

Michael Trick, the dean of CMU-Q, noted: “I strongly believe that as an institute of higher learning, we have a responsibility to give back to our community. CMU-Q’s Community Partner Lectures are a way we can share ideas and information with those in Qatar who are looking for new and better ways to do their jobs.” 

The first Community Partner Lecture covered a topic that has become very relevant for many during the pandemic. Cecile Le Roux, assistant teaching professor of organization and behavior at CMU-Q, spoke on “The new normal: Managing online teams.” Nearly 100 people attended the webinar.

During the session, Le Roux delved into what makes a virtual team work and what external forces create challenges for both organizations and remote professionals.

“The very definition of being a team is being challenged by being online. Traditional teams have turned into virtual teams and we are now transitioning into hybrid teams. With this transition, we need to combine our efforts and skills to achieve goals,” Le Roux said.

As organizations transition from being purely virtual to hybrid, Le Roux emphasized the importance in identifying how physical distance, time spent apart and information technology support will impact our work flow and teams. 

“Recent studies have indicated that virtual and hybrid teams are actually happier and more productive. Working from home, working from anywhere requires acceptance and collaboration. This is not new. These methods are here to stay.” 

Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar will continue Community Partner Lectures in the new year, providing professional education to organizations and professionals in Qatar.