how do teams contribute to organizations? team a small group of people with complementary skills,...
TRANSCRIPT
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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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How do teams work?
Factors that contribute to the success of a team include shared norms and cohesiveness.
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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.
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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.
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How do teams work?
Dysfunctional activities that detract from team effectiveness:Being aggressiveBlockingSeeking sympathyCompetingWithdrawalHorsing aroundSeeking recognition
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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)
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How do teams make decisions?
Methods of team decision making:
Lack of response
Authority rule
Minority rule
Majority rule
Consensus
Unanimity
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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.
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What are the challenges of leading high-performance teams?
Effective team leaders act to:
Establish clear vision.
Create change.
Unleash talent.
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