© Tesseract Management Systems / Managing by Design / 2006 - 1

Teamwork

This set of slides takes a systematic perspective on teamwork. It starts with the rope square exercise, and then uses the review of the exercise (see notes) to draw out the four key elements of successful teams – which are then further expanded on the subsequent slides. Finally the group considers how they will implement this learning.

Please do not attempt to use these slides as part of a presentation until you have read and fully understood the relevant sections of the web site, you know how each slide builds, and you are clear on the points you wish to make with them. See page 92 of Managing by Design.

© Tesseract Management Systems / Managing by Design / 2006 - 2

TEAMWORK- THE ROPE SQUARE

You are required to place 4 of your team members at the corners of the largest possible perfect square.

Your team has to start in a small blindfolded group, and may only communicate by speech.

Your only equipment is an 6 metre length of rope which may not be prepared before the start of the exercise.

You have 10 minutes to plan the exercise without your blindfolds or the rope.

You have 10 minutes to complete the exercise in practice.

© Tesseract Management Systems / Managing by Design / 2006 - 3

TEAMWORK- ANALYSIS

In your groups reflect back on the exercise you have just completed:

What went well, and why?

What problems did you encounter, and why?

Be prepared to feedbackto the group

© Tesseract Management Systems / Managing by Design / 2006 - 4

THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF TEAMWORK

Clear and Agreed Objectives

Teamworking Processes

Defined Roles

Interpersonal Skills

© Tesseract Management Systems / Managing by Design / 2006 - 5

Listening

Questioning

Clarifying

Summarising

Building on Ideas

Constructive Argument

Involving

Recognising

Clear and AgreedObjectives

TeamworkingProcesses

DefinedRoles

InterpersonalSkills

Interpersonal Skills

© Tesseract Management Systems / Managing by Design / 2006 - 6

The Problem Solving Discipline

Decision Making Processes

Consensus Reaching Technique

Brainstorming

Thinking Tools

Meeting Agendas

...

Clear and AgreedObjectives

TeamworkingProcesses

DefinedRoles

InterpersonalSkills

Teamworking Processes

© Tesseract Management Systems / Managing by Design / 2006 - 7

Chairman

Team Leader

Facilitator

Scribe

Timekeeper

Secretary

Administrator

Specialist Roles (e.g. Analyst)

Process Roles (e.g. Liaison)

...

Clear and AgreedObjectives

TeamworkingProcesses

DefinedRoles

InterpersonalSkills

Defined Roles

© Tesseract Management Systems / Managing by Design / 2006 - 8

Objectives

Goals

Critical Success Factors (Strategies)

Measures & Targets

Clear and AgreedObjectives

TeamworkingProcesses

DefinedRoles

InterpersonalSkills

Clear and Agreed Objectives

© Tesseract Management Systems / Managing by Design / 2006 - 9

Clear and AgreedObjectives

TeamworkingProcesses

DefinedRoles

InterpersonalSkills

How do we ensure the Essentials? - syndicate

In your syndicate groups:

Think back to the conclusions from the Rope Square Exercise

What approaches do you currently take as a group of managers to ensuring that they are all in place?

What other approaches are you aware of that are available to management, to ensure these essentials are in place

List the approaches clearly and legibly on a flipchart

Be prepared to reflect your conclusions back to the rest of the group (very briefly)

You have 30 minutes for this exercise