Definition of Team

Definition of Team
A group of people who are joined together for achieving a common goal within a stipulated
period, having collective accountability is known as the team. The agenda of the team is one for
all and all for one. Apart from sharing information, the team members also share the
responsibility of the team task. The team is always responsible for the outcome (i.e. Result of the
collective efforts of the team members).
The team members have a mutual understanding with other members. They work jointly to
maximize the strengths and minimize the weakness by complementing each other. The most
important feature of a team is synergy i.e. the team can achieve much more as the members
can achieve individually. The three key features of team functioning are:
Cohesion
Confrontation
Collaboration
A team is a group of individuals, all working together for a common purpose. The individuals
comprising a team ideally should have common goals, common objectives and more or less think
on the same lines. Individuals who are not compatible with each other can never form a team.
They should have similar if not the same interests, thought processes, attitude, perception and
likings.
Definition of Group
A group is an assemblage of persons who work, interact and cooperate with one another in
achieving a common goal in a specified time. The identity of the group members is taken
individually. The members share information and resources with other group members.
In an organization, the groups are made on the basis of common interests, beliefs, experience in
common fields and principles, so that they can easily coordinate with each other. There are two
kinds of groups:
Formal Group: These groups are created by the management of the organization for
performing a specific task.
Informal Group: The formation of these groups is done naturally in an organization, to
satisfy the social or psychological human needs.
Key Differences between Group and Team
The following are the significant differences between group and team:
1.
2.
There is only one head in a group. A team can have more than one head.
The group members do not share responsibility, but team members share the
responsibility.
3.
The group focuses on achieving the individual goals. Conversely, the team members
focus on achieving the team goals.
4.
The group produces individual work products. As opposed to, the team who produces
collective work products.
5.
The process of a group is to discuss the problem, then decide and finally delegate the
tasks to individual members. On the other hand, a team discusses the problem, then decides the
way of solving it and finally do it collectively.
6.
The group members are independent. Unlike a group, the team members are
interdependent.
Characteristics of Effective Teams
1. There is a clear unity of purpose.
There was free discussion of the objectives until members could commit themselves to them; the
objectives are meaningful to each group member.
2. The group is self-conscious about its own operations.
The group has taken time to explicitly discuss group process -- how the group will function to
achieve its objectives. The group has a clear, explicit, and mutually agreed-upon approach:
mechanics, norms, expectations, rules, etc. Frequently, it will stop to examine how well it is
doing or what may be interfering with its operation. Whatever the problem may be, it gets open
discussion and a solution found.
3. The group has set clear and demanding performance goals
For itself and has translated these performance goals into well-defined concrete milestones
against which it measures itself. The group defines and achieves a continuous series of "small
wins" along the way to larger goals.
4. The atmosphere tends to be informal, comfortable, relaxed.
There are no obvious tensions, a working atmosphere in which people are involved and
interested.
5. There is a lot of discussion in which virtually everyone participates,
But it remains pertinent to the purpose of the group. If discussion gets off track, someone will
bring it back in short order. The members listen to each other. Every idea is given a hearing.
People are not afraid of being foolish by putting forth a creative thought even if it seems
extreme.
6. People are free in expressing their feelings as well as their ideas.
7. There is disagreement and this is viewed as good.
Disagreements are not suppressed or overridden by premature group action. The reasons are
carefully examined, and the group seeks to resolve them rather than dominate the dissenter.
Dissenters are not trying to dominate the group; they have a genuine difference of opinion. If
there are basic disagreements that cannot be resolved, the group figures out a way to live with
them without letting them block its efforts.
8. Most decisions are made at a point where there is general agreement.

However, those who disagree with the general agreement of the group do not keep their
opposition private and let an apparent consensus mask their disagreement. The group does not
accept a simple majority as a proper basis for action.
9. Each individual carries his or her own weight,
Meeting or exceeding the expectations of other group members. Each individual is respectful of
the mechanics of the group: arriving on time, coming to meetings prepared, completing agreed
upon tasks on time, etc. When action is taken, clears assignments are made (who-what-when)
and willingly accepted and completed by each group member.
10. Criticism is frequent, frank and relatively comfortable.
The criticism has a constructive flavor -- oriented toward removing an obstacle that faces the
group.
11. The leadership of the group shifts from time to time.
Importance of Leadership
Leadership is an important function of management which helps to maximize efficiency and to

achieve organizational goals. The following points justify the importance of leadership in a
concern.
1. Initiates action- Leader is a person who starts the work by communicating the policies
and plans to the subordinates from where the work actually starts.
2. Motivation- A leader proves to be playing an incentive role in the concerns working. He
motivates the employees with economic and non-economic rewards and thereby gets the
work from the subordinates.
3. Providing guidance- A leader has to not only supervise but also play a guiding role for
the subordinates. Guidance here means instructing the subordinates the way they have to
perform their work effectively and efficiently.
4. Creating confidence- Confidence is an important factor which can be achieved through
expressing the work efforts to the subordinates, explaining them clearly their role and
giving them guidelines to achieve the goals effectively. It is also important to hear the
employees with regards to their complaints and problems.
5. Building morale- Morale denotes willing co-operation of the employees towards their
work and getting them into confidence and winning their trust. A leader can be a morale
booster by achieving full co-operation so that they perform with best of their abilities as
they work to achieve goals.
6. Builds work environment- Management is getting things done from people. An efficient
work environment helps in sound and stable growth. Therefore, human relations should
be kept into mind by a leader. He should have personal contacts with employees and
should listen to their problems and solve them. He should treat employees on
humanitarian terms.
7. Co-ordination- Co-ordination can be achieved through reconciling personal interests
with organizational goals. This synchronization can be achieved through proper and
effective co-ordination which should be primary motive of a leader.

Definition of Team

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Definition of Team

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Definition of Team

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

What are the differences between a group and a team?

What are the characteristics of an effective team?

Definition of Team

8. Most decisions are made at a point where there is general agreement.

Leadership is an important function of management which helps to maximize efficiency and to

You might also like