Virtuality

Virtual organisations: co-operating (geographically dispersed) organisations working together through the use of information and communications technology. A virtual organisation may form from its component organisations just to collaborate on a specific project, pulling in those areas of expertise that are needed to address that project.

Virtual meetings: communications between (geographically dispersed) individuals and/or organisations through the use of information and communications technology. This may make use of textual, verbal and visual interactive communications; perhaps supplemented with virtual whiteboards, and file and application sharing.

Virtual reality: an electronic representation of a physical object or location that allows navigation within that object or location. In particular, 3D virtual reality environments allow the user to walk through the environment and make observations from different perspectives.

"Cyberspace": the electronic environment that facilitates communication and information dissemination.  Probably the most notable example being the Internet.  The Internet offers (virtually) all of the tools needed to facilitate virtual activities and to host virtual environments.

Conferencing and collaboration tools:

• e-mail
• newsgroups
• Web sites
• file transfer
• textual interactive communications (Chat rooms)
• verbal interactive communications
• visual interactive communications - video conferencing
• virtual whiteboards
• interactive file and application sharing

Management, communications, policies and procedures.

Managing change and process re-engineering.

The human dimension:

• threats and opportunities
• disadvantages and benefits
• skills and training
• emotions
• support
• co-operation

Geographically independent, offering local, regional, national and global opportunities.

Flexible workforce.

The right skills for the job.

Reduced travel and associated expenses.

The opportunity to respond quickly and to be competitive.