Chapter 10: Understanding Work Teams

Differences Between Groups and Teams

*Work group – interacts primarily to share information and make decision to help each member
perform within his or her area of responsibility

*Work Team – generates positive synergy through coordinated effort

*Goal: share information ; collective performance

*Synergy: neutral (negative) ; positive

*Accountability: individual ; individual and mutual

*Skills: random and valid ; complementary

Types of Teams

*Problem-Solving Teams – 5 to 12 employees from the same department who meet for a few hours
each week to discuss ways of improving quality, efficiency, and work environment; rarely have the
authority to unilaterally implement any of their suggestions

*Self-Managed Work Teams – 10 to 15 people who take on responsibilities of their former supervisors

*Cross-Functional Teams – employees from about the same hierarchical level, but from different work
areas, who come together to accomplish a task

*Virtual Teams – use computer technology to tie together physically dispersed members in order to
achieve a common goal

Creating Effective Teams

TEAM EFFECTIVENESS MODEL

**Context: What Factors Determine Whether Teams are Successful

a. Adequate Resources
b. Leadership and Structure
c. Climate of Trust
d. Performance Evaluation and Reward Systems

**Team Composition

a. Abilities of Members
b. Personality of Members
c. Allocation of Roles
d. Diversity of Members
e. Size of Teams
f. Member Preferences
**Team Processes

a. Common Plan and Purpose

b. Specific Goals
c. Team Efficacy
d. Mental Models
e. Conflict Levels
f. Social Loafing

Turning Individuals into Team Players

**Selecting: Hiring Team Players

**Training: Creating Team Players

**Rewarding: Providing Incentives to Be a Good Team Player