Team Work

9-1
Understanding Work Teams

After studying this chapter, you should be able to:
9-2
1. Contrast groups and teams, and analyze the growing

popularity of using teams in organizations.
2. Compare and contrast four types of teams.
3. Identify the characteristics of effective teams.
4. Show how organizations can create team players.
5. Decide when to use individuals instead of teams.
6. Show how the understanding of teams differs in a global
context.
Why Are Teams So Popular?
9-3
 Increased competition forced restructuring for

efficiency and effectiveness
 Teams:
 Better utilize employee talents
 Are more flexible and responsive to change
 Better decision making and motivate the employees
Groups and Teams
9-4
 Work Group –
A group who interacts primarily to share
information and to make decisions to help one
another perform within each member’s area of
responsibility. A group is primarily there to share
information and make decisions, no real joint effort
is required.
 Work Team –
Generates positive synergy through coordinated
effort; team efforts result in a level of
performance that is greater than the sum of those
individual inputs. A team works in a more
coordinated effort to achieve a goal.
Comparing Work Groups and Work Teams
9-5
Four Types of Teams
9-6
Problem-Solving Teams
9-7
 Members often from the same

department
 Problem-solving teams are a
very popular method used in
many organizations. Typically
this type of team meets for a
few hours each week to solve a
particular problem.
 Rarely given authority to
implement any of their
suggested actions
Self-Managed Work Teams
9-8
 10-15 employees in highly-related jobs

 Team takes on supervisory responsibilities:
 Work planning and scheduling
 Assigning tasks
 Operating decisions/actions
 Working with customers
 Self-managed work teams is comprised of a group of people
who do not have a manager and the group takes on the
responsibilities of the supervisor.
 The effectiveness of this group greatly depends on the

situation and the goals of the group.
Cross-Functional Teams
9-9
 Members from same level, but diverse areas

within and between organizations
 Exchange information
 Develop new ideas and solve problems
 Coordinate complex projects
 Development may be time-consuming due to
complexity and diversity
Virtual Teams
9-10
 Computer technology ties

dispersed team together
 Virtual teams are increasing in

their use. This type of team uses
computer technology to bring
people together to achieve a
common goal. Typically these
types of teams get right to work
with little socializing, but need to
overcome time and space
constraints to accomplish the task.
Key Components of Effective Teams
9-11
 Context
 Composition
 Process
Contextual Components
9-12
 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
9-13
 Abilities of members
 Technical expertise
 Problem-solving
 Communication skills
 Personality
 Conscientious and open-minded
 Allocation of Roles
 Diversity
 Size of teams
 Member preferences
Process Components
9-14
 The goals of the team must

be set up so they are
specific, measurable, realistic
yet challenging in order to
keep the team members
engaged.
 Common plan and purpose
 Specific goals
 Low levels of conflict
Turning Individuals Into Team Players
9-15
 When formulating teams it is important to carefully

select the right employees who are more attuned to
team work.
 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
Teams Aren’t Always the Answer: Three Tests
9-16
 There are three questions to ask to assess if teams fit the

situation.
 Complexity of Work:
Can the work be done better by more than one person?
 Common Purpose:
Does the work create a common purpose or set of goals for the
people in the group that is more than the aggregate of individual
goals?
 Interdependence:
Are the members of the group interdependent?
If these three questions all can be answered with a yes, then a team might be
the solution!

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9-1

Understanding Work Teams

1. Contrast groups and teams, and analyze the growing

 Increased competition forced restructuring for

 Members often from the same

 10-15 employees in highly-related jobs

 The effectiveness of this group greatly depends on the

 Members from same level, but diverse areas

 Computer technology ties

 Virtual teams are increasing in

 Presence of adequate resources

 The goals of the team must

 When formulating teams it is important to carefully

 There are three questions to ask to assess if teams fit the

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