Mastering Virtual Work
Virtual work is one of the fastest growing changes in the 21st century workplace. Advancements in mobile communications technology enable employees to perform their jobs from any location with a telephone and an Internet connection, including from home, from secondary office locations and while traveling.
The virtual office has quickly expanded beyond traditional mobile occupations such as sales, real estate, consulting and customer support. Nearly any knowledge-worker position that uses technology-based collaboration tools has the potential to work in a virtual workplace, at least part time. With proper planning, training, and accountability, the virtual workplace can be used as a catalyst to improve organizational effectiveness, modernize management skills, and improve the performance and job satisfaction of individuals in a wide range of occupations.
New College Coursework for the Virtual Workplace
A new course called "Mastering Virtual Work" enables students and businesses to learn about, and actually take advantage of, the important business trends that are driving virtual work in many organizations.
Students will learn about the latest tools and techniques to excel the virtual office, preparing them for working in a virtual office environment both as an employee and as a manager.
The course will offer students best practices for a range of employee skills, including staying visible and connected, managing time workload and performance, setting up and managing a home office and working in shared workspace environments. Students will also learn management skills needed to be a successful leader in a virtual workplace, including communicating expectations, preparing the employee and the workgroup, managing workgroup communications, managing change and assuring long-term virtual work success.
From a company perspective, students will gain a clear understanding of the significant changes that continue to occur in the workplace as a result of mobile technology, and how these changes affect workforce performance, collaboration, efficiency, management, planning and cultural change. From a program-development perspective, students will learn about the program elements needed to effectively design, develop, deploy and manage a virtual workplace program utilizing a cross-functional team with participation from human resources, real estate and facilities, information technology, legal and risk management, and other corporate functions.
Mastering Virtual Work - BADM 194
Mastering Virtual Work is a 3 credit-hour, 8-week course which may be taken as an elective toward an LCCC degree. The course may also be taken in combination with other LCCC courses to earn a short-term certificate of completion.
Participants in the course will learn how to understand, implement and manage a virtual work environment. In addition, participants will gain a clear understanding of the significant changes that continue to occur in the workplace as a result of mobile technology, and how these changes affect workforce performance, collaboration, efficiency, management, planning and cultural change. Students will learn how perform successfully as a virtual office worker and/or virtual office manager, and will learn the fundamental program elements needed to effectively design, develop, deploy and manage a virtual work program.
Course Topics include:
- Technology and the New Human Interaction Model
- Technology-Induced Workplace Change
- Transitioning the Traditional Organization to Mobility
- Virtual Work: A Manager’s Perspective
- Establishing a Solid Remote Work Foundation
- Creating and Managing a Highly Effective Mobile Work Environment
- Mobility Enabled Change Management Processes
- The Virtual Office Manager Model of Success
- Virtual Work: What It Takes to Be Successful
- Maintaining Relationships and Credibility
- Managing Your Time, Workload and Performance
- Home Office Best Practices
- Shared Workspace Essentials and the Virtual Worker Model of Success
Virtual Workplace Certificate of Completion
Students may earn a short-term Certificate of Completion by taking the following courses:
- BADM 194 Mastering Virtual Work (three credit hours)
- CISS 121 Introduction to Microcomputers (three credit hours)
- PSYH 151 Introduction to Psychology (three credit hours)
- PSYH 273 Industrial/Organizational Psychology (three credit hours)
- BADM 261 Entrepreneurship (three credit hours)
Learn More about Virtual Workplace Training
For more information about the Virtual Workplace course or certificate program, contact the Lorain County Community College Business Division at 440-366-7401.
If you operate a business and are considering establishing a virtual workplace to your organization, contact the LCCC Entrepreneurship Innovation Institute at 440-366-4300.