Ben Roberts

Assignment 4: Team Building P5

Types of teams

Formal
These teams have a clear defined membership and structure. They have very
clearly defined goals and objectives and these will be monitored in a structured
way to make sure goals are achieved on time.
These teams have been created by senior members of the organisation and have
their support, usually to solve a particular problem or deliver a particular goal.
An example might be where a group of policemen are placed in a team to look at
anti social behaviour on a particular housing estate, and how to reduce the
problem.
Informal
Less rigid membership, people can come and go as necessary, this flexibility can
use different peoples strengths as necessary.
The goals for these teams and their structures are less structured and this can
encourage more innovative working and decision making.
An example of this type of team would be a group looking at best practice within
the organisation.
Temporary
These teams come together for a shorter period of time to look at a particular
problem or idea and then disband after they have achieved their goal.
This can be very useful for trouble shooting new problems, however, they can be
less effective than permanent teams because they do not know each other in
terms of group strengths and weaknesses.
An example of this type of team might be a strategic command team for a
disaster that will disband once the situation has been resolved.
Project
Project teams are similar to temporary teams in that they are put together to
achieve a specific goal and they will disband after achieving their goals,
however, they are formed to for a very clearly defined reason and will be made
up of specialist people chosen because of the particular goal, including a project
manager. Sometimes that manager will help to select the team.
A project team might be a group put together in the police to check out the
feasibility of new equipment such as a head camera.
Permanent
Probably the most common type of team in the public services, shifts in the
police and fire service and regiments in the army are examples of these types of

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Assignment 4: Team Building P5

team. They usually have the same members and operate for long periods of
time.
These types of teams are seen as strong as members know each other well and
know each others strengths and weaknesses. This knowledge means they will be
able to achieve goals bette,r using members most effectively to be successful.
The negative side of these teams is that they can become stale and set in their
ways which means new ideas and creativity can be reduced. It is also difficult to
change how the team operates.

Types of teamwork activities

There are different types of teamwork activities used by the public services to
train their teams. They are usually put in one of three categories; practical /
activity, paper based & activities in the workplace.
Physical
Training

Team
Building

Military /
emergeny
training

Disaster

Practical / Activity based

A very good way of improving a team. Team sports and
physical training encourage members to work together to win.
They also encourage camaraderie. Stronger members help
weaker ones and weak ones are inspired to improve to fit into
the group.
This can be any activity that brings a team together and make
it work more efficiently as a team. Popular activities are often
outward bound activities such as raft building. The idea is for
the team to find better ways of working together.
Live exercises can be a real test for a team, practicing for a
major incident or military tactics. Training is done as close to
the real thing as possible with dummy ammunition or fake
casualties. They will also change the incident so the team have
to adapt and respond to a changing situation, just as they
would have to do in real life.

Paper Based
There are two main types Seminar and Table top activities.
Seminar is a discussion based activity designed so everyone
knows exactly what their roles, responsibilities and procedures
are in a given situation. Either all working together or in smaller
groups on different parts of the situation.
Table top: similar to seminar but usually involves only small
teams. They usually sit around a table and discuss how they
would respond to different parts of a major incident, hence the

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Logistics

Achieving
objectives
Planning and
achieving a
project

Assignment 4: Team Building P5

name. These activities are effective in testing major incident
plans as they can highlight any weaknesses in the plan.
This involves the process managing and tracking the materials
and components needed for a project eg. Getting troops,
equipment and supplies for the army to a war zone. Often
teams will work out these logistics in advance for any given
situation so they can be in place before they are needed. Often
these teams will now work on computers rather than on paper.

Work related
Most teams are trying to achieve objectives set by their
organisation and are judged by their ability to meet those
objectives.
Most projects and initiatives that need to be planned. Teams
are mostly responsible for developing strategies for achieving a
project and monitoring its success or not. They will be held
responsible if they do not succeed.

Types of teams in the Public Services

Type of team
Emergency
services
Project teams
Search &
Rescue
Specialist
teams
Multi agency
teams
Force

Brigade

Regiment

Definition
Organisations that ensure public health
& safety by responding to different
emergencies.

Common in which
public service
Ambulance service,
Fire brigadeand
Police.

Organisations that search for and

provide aid to people who are in
distress or imminent danger.

RAF, Coatguard and

Mountain rescue.

Where several organisations work

together to achieve a common goal or
respond to a major incident.
A group put together to complete a
necessary task by overcoming those
that dont want that to happen
A group or unit which was brigaded with
regular formations to improve its
training. Also a unit within the army.
A permanent unit of an army typically
commanded by a lieutenant colonel and

All public services

but especially Police,
NHS and fire service
Police and Army

Fire service and Army

Army

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Multi
Disciplinary

Geographical

Sectional
Departmental
Divisional

Assignment 4: Team Building P5

divided into several companies,
squadrons, or batteries and often into
two battalions.
A group composed of members with
varied but complimentary experience,
qualifications, and skills that contribute
to the achievement of the
organization's specific objectives.
Team based on its geography all
members at the same geographical
location.
Relating to a section or sub division of a
larger organisation
Belonging to a department of an
organisation
Part of an organisation, divided from
the main body to form a group.

All public services

Police, NHS, Fire

service & Army
Armed services
NHS
Army division or
Divisional
commander in the
police or fire service.

Resources

Public Services Level 3 Book 1: Grey, Lilley and Vause (2010)

http://www.businessdictionary.com
www.oxforddictionaries.com