Understanding

Understanding Work
Work Teams
Teams
Why
Why Have
Have Teams
Teams Become
Become So
So Popular?
Popular?

Great way to use employee talents

Teams are more flexible and responsive to changes in
the environment
Can quickly assemble, deploy, refocus, and disband
Facilitate employee involvement
Increase employee participation in decision making
Democratize an organization and increase motivation
Differences
Differences between
between Groups
Groups and
and Teams
Teams

Work Group
A group that interacts primarily to share information
and to make decisions to help each group member
perform within his or her area of responsibility
No joint effort required

Work Team
Generates positive synergy through coordinated effort.
The individual efforts result in a performance that is
greater than the sum of the individual inputs

10-3
Comparing
Comparing Work
Work Groups
Groups and
and Work
Work Teams
Teams
Types
Types of
of Teams
Teams
Problem-Solving Teams
Groups of 5 to 12 employees from
the same department who meet for
a few hours each week to discuss
ways of improving quality,
efficiency, and the work
environment

Self-Managed Work Teams

Groups of 10 to 15 people who take
on the responsibilities of their
former supervisors
More
More Types
Types of
of Teams
Teams
Cross-Functional Teams
Employees from about the same hierarchical level, but
from different work areas, who come together to
accomplish a task

Very common
Task forces
Committees
AA Final
Final Type
Type of
of Team
Team
Virtual Teams
Teams that use computer technology to tie together
physically dispersed members in order to achieve a
common goal
Characteristics
Limited socializing
The ability to overcome time and space constraints
To be effective, needs:
Trust among members
Close monitoring
To be publicized

10-7
Key Components of
Effective Teams

Context
Composition
Work Design
Process
 Contextual Components
Presence of adequate resources
Effective leadership and structure
Climate of trust in the team
Performance evaluation and reward system that
reflects team contributions
Team Composition
Components
Abilities of members
Technical expertise
Problem-solving
Interpersonal
Personality
Conscientious and open-minded
Diversity
Size of teams
Member preferences
Work Design Components
Freedom
Autonomy
Skill variety
Task identity
Task significance

Enhances motivation
and team effectiveness
Process Components
Common plan and purpose
Specific goals
Team efficacy
Common mental models
Low levels of conflict
Minimized social loafing

10-12
Ensuring Team players work for
organization
Selection
Need employees who have the interpersonal
as well as technical skills
Training
Workshops on problem-solving,
communications, negotiation, conflict-
management and coaching skills
Rewards
Encourage cooperative efforts rather than
individual ones
10-13
 Implications for Managers
Common characteristics of effective teams:
Have adequate resources, effective
leadership, a climate of trust, and suitable
reward system
Composed of individuals with technical and
interpersonal skills
Work provides freedom, autonomy, and
opportunity to use skills
Members are committed to a common
purpose
10-14