More and more businesses rely on team members who are spread out across the country, if not the globe. How can such a team stay connected, communicate effectively, and operate efficiently? With a virtual office, of course. Read/WriteWeb explains how to build one that includes various essential components: forums, wikis, chat rooms, and so on. Here’s an example:
Flowcharting Online mind-mapping tools are great. Being able to sit down with another team member and map out a database, or the page structure for a website, or the levels for a game, etc., is invaluable. None of these tools existed when I first started, but they’re great to take advantage of now. Thinkature is one such tool, and it also supports voice chat so you can talk through your flowcharting. Don’t like Thinkature? Try MindMeister, Gliffy, Kayuda, Bubbl.us, Mindomo, Flowchart.com, Comapping, or Mind42.
The author also makes the case for a unified services such as Basecamp, but notes that using disparate tools can give you more control over specific areas of your virtual office. Are you a telecommuter or a manager of a mobilized workforce? If so, hit the Comments page and tell us what virtual-office tools you find most indispensable.
