v     Virtual Meetings

• Ø      Definition
• Ø      Virtual meetings and collaboration
• Ø      Comparison Virtual vs Non-Virtual Meetings
• Ø      Advantages of Virtual Meetings
• Ø      Disadvantages/Challenges of Virtual Meetings
• Ø      What drives the need for Virtual Teams

v     Planning the meeting

• Ø      Purpose of meeting
• §         Communication
• §         Idea generation
• §         Decision Making
• §         Problem Solving
• Ø      Choosing the right meeting tool
• Ø      Choosing a facilitator
• Ø      Agenda
• §         Setting an effective agenda
• Ø      Send meeting resources (documents and links)
• Ø      Procedure for joining the meeting and troubleshooting
• Ø      Be aware of time zones
• Ø      Ground rules
• Ø      Backup plan

v     Managing a Virtual Meeting

• Ø      Check-in make sure everyone is there
• Ø      Code of communications for participants to ask questions/make comments
• Ø      Techniques
• §         Keeping meeting attendees focused and engaged
• ·        Solicit feedback and questions
• Ø      Basic problems and how to deal with them
• Ø      Best practices

v     Virtual meeting models

• Ø      Meetings with only remote attendees
• Ø      Meetings with both remote and in-room attendees

v     Meeting Facilitation

• Ø      What is a Facilitator?
• Ø      Importance of Facilitation
• Ø      Roles of a Facilitator
• §         Tool Giver
• §         Neutral Third Party
• §         Process Guide
• §         Process Educator
• Ø      Facilitation Techniques
• §         Virtual meeting
• §         Non-virtual meeting
• Ø      Managing difficulties

v     Virtual Meeting Management Tools

• Ø      Description
• Ø      Types
• §         Group Support Systems
• §         Online Presentation Tools
• §         Meeting Planning Tools
• §         Schedule Planning Tools
• §         Agenda Planning Tools
• Ø      Examples