team effectiveness…an intro

Dr. Natalie AllenThe TeamWork LabDepartment of PsychologySeptember 8 / 08

nallen@uwo.ca

what is a team?

• 2 or more people

• working interdependently

• toward a common goal

consider….

>> dramatic claims about team effectiveness

>> empirical data are much less impressive

>> YET strong enthusiasm for teams persists

“romance of teams”

A belief in the effectiveness of teams

that is out of proportion to the scientific

evidence regarding team effectiveness

Allen & Hecht (2004)

why does the romance exist?

teams can provide

….social/emotional benefits

….competence-related benefits

when are teams necessary?

• task requires skills that no individual has

• time pressure requires multiple people

• coordinated action is required

• task is inherently interdependent

so what factors influence team success???

Input >>>> Process >>>> Outcomes

INPUT FACTORS

• Resources

• People!!!

RESOURCES

• influence

• access to information

• stuff: equipment, budget, time

PEOPLE

• The right number….

Too many?

Too few?

Two-pizza rule

PEOPLE (continued)

Goals

Are they clear?

Are they shared?

Are they believed in?

Are they achievable?

PEOPLE (continued)

Roles

Are they clear?

Does everyone understand them?

Do they “fit” the team members’ KSAs?

People

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities….

PROCESS FACTORS

The 3 Cs…

Communication

Coordination

Conflict

Communication

Internal communication

External communication

Coordination

• Use of time – include deadlines

• Follow-through on promises

• Streamlining of activities

• Hand-off strategies

• Back-up plans

Conflict….

teamwork & you

teamwork is an individual skill

engineering depends on teamwork

The photographers who work appears herein have given permission to The TeamWork Lab to use these images. Please do not reproduce for other purposes.

ATTENTION!!!!

• UWO email address

• UWO email password

• ES1050 study login ID (e.g., 90001)