What is a distributed team?

A distributed team is a group of individuals working together towards a common goal but located in different geographic locations or time zones. Members of a distributed team communicate and collaborate via technology, such as email, video conferencing, instant messaging, and other online collaboration tools.

Distributed teams can be fully remote or partially remote, with some members working in a physical office and others working remotely. They are often used by companies looking to expand their talent pool and tap into the expertise of professionals outside of their local area.

Distributed teams offer several benefits, including increased flexibility, access to a larger talent pool, and reduced overhead costs. However, they can also present communication, coordination, and collaboration challenges, particularly when team members are spread across different time zones and cultural contexts. Effective communication and collaboration tools and clear expectations and guidelines are key to the success of distributed teams.