Understanding Teams

Summary

This script explores the popularity and effectiveness of teams in organizations, emphasizing their flexibility and ability to outperform individuals. It distinguishes between work groups and teams, highlighting the synergy of the latter. The script delves into various types of teams, such as problem-solving, self-managed, cross-functional, virtual, and multi-team systems, and discusses factors influencing their success, including leadership, trust, and team composition. It also addresses the importance of team processes and goals, and the role of training in enhancing team performance.

Takeaways

• 😀 Teams are popular because they are believed to be more effective than individuals when working on projects.
• 👥 Teams offer flexibility and responsiveness to changing events, making them more adaptable than traditional departments.
• 🤔 The effectiveness of teams is not guaranteed and can be influenced by groupthink and fads.
• 🔄 There's a difference between work groups and work teams; the former focuses on sharing information while the latter generates synergy through coordination.
• 💡 Problem-solving teams are small groups that meet to improve quality and efficiency, but their effectiveness can vary.
• 🌟 Self-managed work teams have a wider range of responsibilities and can lead to reduced supervisory roles, but their effectiveness can be hindered by internal conflicts.
• 🔄 Cross-functional teams combine diverse skills and perspectives to solve complex problems and generate innovative ideas.
• 🌐 Virtual teams use technology to collaborate remotely, and shared leadership can enhance their performance.
• 🔗 Multi-team systems consist of interdependent teams working towards a common goal, requiring coordination and boundary-spanning roles.
• 🛠 The key components of effective teams include resources, team composition, and process variables.
• 📈 Team effectiveness can be influenced by factors such as trust, leadership, team identity, and cohesion.

Q & A

Why are teams considered popular and effective in the workplace?

Teams are popular because they are believed to be effective in achieving goals. They can outperform individuals when members are committed to a project and to each other, and they offer flexibility and responsiveness to changing events, as well as a means to democratize organizations and increase employee involvement.

What is the difference between a group and a team in a work setting?

A group is primarily for sharing information, making decisions, and helping each member perform within their area of responsibility without necessarily engaging in collective work. A team, on the other hand, generates positive synergy through coordination, where individual efforts result in a performance level greater than the sum of individual inputs.

What are the common characteristics of effective teams?

Effective teams have certain common characteristics such as clear goals, trust among members, good communication, proper resources, and a supportive environment. They also exhibit reflexivity, adaptability, and a strong sense of team identity and cohesion.

What is a self-managed work team and how does it differ from a traditional team?

A self-managed work team is a group of employees who perform interdependent jobs and have responsibilities that include planning, scheduling, assigning tasks, making operating decisions, and interacting with suppliers and customers. Unlike traditional teams, self-managed teams may select their own members, evaluate each other's performance, and reduce the importance or even eliminate former supervisory positions.

What factors should be in place for self-managing teams to be advantageous?

For self-managing teams to be advantageous, factors such as clear team goals, trust, appropriate team size, individual preferences, and a supportive organizational culture must be in place. Additionally, team members should be rewarded for team-promoting behaviors.

What is a cross-functional team and how does it benefit an organization?

A cross-functional team consists of employees from different work areas who collaborate to accomplish a task. It benefits an organization by allowing diverse individuals to exchange information, develop new ideas, solve problems, and coordinate complex projects, leveraging the unique perspectives and skills of its members.

How do virtual teams operate and what enhances their performance?

Virtual teams use computer technology to collaborate online, using tools like corporate social media, video conferencing, and email, regardless of geographic location. Shared leadership and the establishment of trust among members, close monitoring of progress, and publicizing team efforts can significantly enhance the performance of virtual teams.

What is a multi-team system and how does it differ from individual teams?

A multi-team system is a collection of two or more interdependent teams that share a superordinate goal. Unlike individual teams, multi-team systems require coordination and collaboration among different sub-teams, with boundary spanners playing a crucial role in facilitating coordination.

What are the three general categories of key components for effective teams?

The three general categories are resources and contextual influences, team composition, and process variables. Resources include information, equipment, and administrative support. Team composition involves the selection of members based on abilities, personalities, and skills. Process variables include team goals, identity, and cohesion.

How can organizations determine if a task is better suited for a team or an individual?

Organizations can apply three tests: whether the work can be done better by more than one person, whether it creates a common purpose or set of goals, and whether there is interdependence among tasks where the success of the whole depends on the success of each part.

What is the importance of team training and what skills can it help employees improve?

Team training is important as it helps employees experience the satisfaction of teamwork and improve their problem-solving, communication, negotiation, conflict management, and coaching skills. It has positive tangible effects on performance, despite the time and resources required.