Question # 3

1. Describe or define VO.

A workplace that is not based in one physical location but consists of employees working remotely by using information and communications technologies. A virtual office is characterized by the use of teleworkers, telecenters, mobile workers, hot-desking, and hoteling, and promotes the use of virtual teams.

2. Distinguish VO from MIS.

A virtual organization or company is one whose members are geographically apart, usually working by computer e-mail and groupware while appearing to others to be a single, unified organization with a real physical location, while the (MIS) management information systems are those systems that allow managers to make decisions for the successful operation of businesses. Management information systems consist of computer resources, people, and procedures used in the modern business enterprise.

3. Illustrate (give examples) how VO can improve company's competitive advantage and organizational performance.

If, for instance, you have a small company that is manufacturing or selling products in the Italian market and they wish to establish a sales office in London, for example, but don't wish to invest in physical office space in London, to take on permanent staff to carry out the sales functions in that office - at least until they've established whether there is a market for the product in the London environment - it is quite possible for that company to establish what we would call a virtual office in another country with a local telephone number. That number can be called by customers in the London area and the calls received and rediverted then to the office in Italy, if there is a customer that wants further information about products. So this is a virtual presence of that company in a different market without necessarily having the physical office space and the permanent staff that go with it. It's a very important way that smaller companies in the European Union can start to use the single European market to enlarge the market for their services without a large initial investment. But this is again another example of how working at a distance, representing your company' products and services at a distance, can now be enabled through the information networks in a very cost-effective way.

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