How do teams contribute to organizations?

Team A small group of people with complementary skills, who work together to achieve a shared purpose and hold themselves mutually accountable for performance results.

Teamwork The process of people actively working together to accomplish common goals

1

How do teams contribute to organizations?

Common problems in teams:Personality conflicts. Individual differences in work styles.Ambiguous agendas. Ill-defined problems.Poor readiness to work.Lack of motivation.Conflicts with other deadlines or priorities.Lack of team organization or progress.Meetings that lack purpose or structure.Members coming to meetings unprepared.

2

How do teams contribute to organizations?

Seven sins of deadly meetings:People arrive late, leave early, and don’t take things seriously.

The meeting is too long.People don’t stay on topic.The discussion lacks candor.The right information isn’t available, so decisions are postponed.

No one puts decisions into action.The same mistakes are made meeting after meeting.

3

How do teams contribute to organizations?

SynergyThe creation of a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

A team uses its membership resources to the fullest and thereby achieves through collective action far more than could be achieved otherwise.

4

How do teams contribute to organizations?

Usefulness of teams:More resources for problem solving.Improved creativity and innovation.Improved quality of decision making.Greater commitments to tasks.Higher motivation through collective action.

Better control and work discipline.More individual need satisfaction.

5

How do teams contribute to organizations?

Formal groups —

are officially recognized and supported by

an organization for a specific purpose. They

are part of the organization’s structure and

may be referred to as committees,

departments, units, team, or divisions.

6

Informal groups —

arise if an opportunity exists. They emerge naturally

or spontaneously to fill emotional, social, or

psychological needs. Here are some examples. 

Friendship groups form based on shared interests

outside of work. Interest groups form when people

work together for a common cause.  Support groups

formed when workers help one another with their

jobs. When individuals’ needs are not met by the

formal organization, informal groups will form to fill

the gap. Informal groups can have a significant

effect either negative or positive, on an organization.

It is very important for managers to understand the

dynamics of informal groups that exist in their

organizations.

7

What are the current trends in the use of teams?

Virtual teams —

Teams of people who work together and

solve problems through largely computer-

mediated rather than face-to-face

interactions.

Sometimes called …

Computer-mediated groups

Electronic group networks

8

How do teams work?

Effective teams …

made up of members with complementary

skills, who are committed to a common

purpose, performance goals, and an

approach for which they hold themselves

mutually accountable. Effective teams

pull together in the same direction to

achieve the team’s goals.

9

How do teams work?

Factors that contribute to the success of a team include shared norms and cohesiveness.

10

11A norm is an attitude, belief, or behaviour that is expected of team members. Norms define how a group member is expected to think or act. Examples of positive norms include: expected level of contribution, timeliness, attendance, quality of work, effective communication, and guidelines for conflict resolution. If a group member violates a norm, there are usually consequences; in the worst case, the consequence is expulsion from the team.

How do teams work?

Cohesiveness is the degree to which individuals are motivated to become and remain members of a team.  Cohesive teams stick together to pursue their goals and objectives.

12

How do teams work?

Group process:

The way the members of any team work

together as they transform inputs into

outputs :

Also known as group dynamics.

Includes communications, decision making,

norms, cohesion, and conflict, among

others.

13

How do teams work?

Dysfunctional activities that detract from team effectiveness:Being aggressiveBlockingSeeking sympathyCompetingWithdrawalHorsing aroundSeeking recognition

14

How do teams work?Social loafing describes the tendency of individuals to put forth less effort when they are part of a group. Because all members of the group are pooling their effort to achieve a common goal, each member of the group contributes less than they would if individually responsible. (http://psychology.about.com/od/sindex/g/socialloafing.htm)

15

How do teams make decisions?

Methods of team decision making:

Lack of response

Authority rule

Minority rule

Majority rule

Consensus

Unanimity

16

Lack of ResponseOne idea after another is suggested without any discussion taking place.

Authority RuleAuthority figure makes a decision.

Very time efficient

Can be done with or without discussion

Minority RuleTwo or three people are able to dominate or “railroad” the team into making a mutually agreeable decision.

Often accomplished by a suggestion followed by forcing quick agreement. Eg. “Does anyone object?...Let’s go ahead then.”

Majority Rule• Formal voting may take place

• Members may be polled to find the majority viewpoint.

• Used with early signs of disagreement.

• Parallels democratic system.

• Often the “Losers” feel resentful and left out.▫Can cause poor implementation of

decision.

ConsensusOne alternative being favored by most members and the other members agreeing to support it.

Inclusive to all members Team members must be able to:

Engage in reasonable conflictArgueRespect one another

Difficult to achieve

UnanimityAll team members agree on the course of action to be taken.

Ideal state of affairs

Rarely occurs

Difficult to achieve

Which Method Fits Best?

1. The schedule for next month needs to be made.

2. What time should lunch break be?

3. How can we meet our new budget objectives for 2010?

4. What kind of paper should we use in our printer?

5. What kind of printer should we buy?

Advantages of Team Decision Making

•Greater amounts of ▫Information▫Knowledge▫Expertise

•Expand the # of Alternatives

•Avoid tunnel vision

• Increases commitments of members

Disadvantages of Team Decision Making

TIME

Social Pressure to Conform

Intimidation can take place

Railroading

$$$$$

What are the challenges of leading high-performance teams?

Characteristics of high-performing teams:

A clear and elevating goal.

A task-driven, results-oriented structure.

Competent and committed members who work hard.

A collaborative climate.

High standards of excellence.

External support and recognition.

Strong and principled leadership.

26

What are the challenges of leading high-performance teams?

Effective team leaders act to:

Establish clear vision.

Create change.

Unleash talent.

27