After reading this chapter, you should be able to answer the following questions: What are high-performance teams? How can team processes be improved? How can team communications be improved? How can team decisions be improved?
Chapter Teamwork and Team Performance Teams are worth the hard work Chapter Study Questions What are high-performance teams? How can team processes be improved? How can team communications be improved? How can team decisions be improved? Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, How can we create high performance teams? Characteristics of High Performance Teams • Set a clear and challenging direction • Believe in the goals and motivated to work hard to accomplish them • Turn a general sense of purpose into specific objectives • Set standards for measuring results and obtain feedback • Members have the right mix of technical, problem- solving and interpersonal skills Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, How can we create high performance teams? Team Building • Collaborative way to gather and analyze data about the team’s work The goal is improved teamwork and increased team effectiveness Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Figure 8.1: Steps in the teambuilding process Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, How can we create high performance teams? Formal retreat approach • Team building occurs during an offsite “retreat.” Outdoor experience approach • Members engage in a variety of physically challenging situations that require teamwork Continuous improvement approach • The manager, team leader, or group members take responsibility for ongoing team building Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Inc How can team processes be improved? New members may worry about: • Participation • Goals • Control • Relationships ã Processes Copyright â 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Inc Coping Mechanisms Used by New Team Members Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, How can team processes be improved? Distributed leadership • Sharing of responsibility for meeting group task and maintenance needs Task activities • Various things members and leaders that directly contribute to the performance of important group tasks Maintenance activities • Support the social and interpersonal relationships among team members Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Inc Distributed Leadership Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Figure 8.5 Interaction patterns and communication networks found in teams Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, How can team communications be To assure high performance, team interaction improved? patterns and communication networks must be aligned with interaction patterns and team tasks • Centralized • Decentralized • Restrictive Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, How can team communications be Decentralized communication network improved? • Members communicate directly, as needed, and share information with one another Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, How can team communications be Centralized communication network improved? • Team leader acts as a central control point • Team leader collects and distributes information among members • Members work independently Results are passed to the team leader and pooled to create finished product Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, How can team communications be Restricted communication network improved? • Subgroups disagree with one another’s positions • Poor communication is characteristic of this type of situation Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, How can team communications be improved? Proxemics involves use of space as people interact • Architects and consultants that specialize in office design help executives create spaces conducive to intense communication and teamwork needed in today’s work environment • Design of office space, and the size and availability of meeting rooms can positively impact the effectiveness of team communication Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Inc How can team communications be improved? Virtual communication networks • Technology provide numerous resources for real time communication • Empowers team members to be in constant electronic contact with one another or a central database • Online team building activities are critically important to high quality results Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, How can team decisions be Teams make decisions by choosing from improved? alternative actions • Decision by lack of response One idea after another is suggested without any discussion-taking place • Decision by authority rule The chairperson, manager, or leader makes a decision for the team • Decision by minority rule Two or three people are able to dominate or “railroad” the group into making a decision to which they agree Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, 1-32 How can team decisions be • Decision by majority rule improved? Formal voting usually takes place, or members may be polled, publicly or confidentially, to find the majority viewpoint • Decision by consensus Discussion leads to one alternative being favored by most members and the other members agree to support it • Decision by unanimity All group members agree totally on the course of action to be taken Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, 1-33 How can team decisions be improved? Assets and Liabilities of Consensus and Unanimity • Advantages: More information, knowledge and expertise is applied to solve problem Discussion leads to broader understanding of final decision Increases acceptance and strengthens commitment of members to follow through and support decision • Disadvantages: Imperfect decisions may result from social pressures to conform to group, or undue Copyright © 2014 John Wiley &of Sons, influence team leader How can team decisions be improved? Groupthink • The tendency of members in highly cohesive groups to lose their critical evaluative capabilities Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, How can team decisions be improved? Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, How can team decisions be improved? Brainstorming • Used in teams to actively generate as many ideas and alternatives as possible All criticism is ruled out All ideas are welcomed Emphasis on creativity and imagination Quantity is wanted Building on others’ ideas or “piggy-backing” is encouraged Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, How can team decisions be improved? Nominal group technique • Members are asked to respond individually and in writing to a “nominal” question Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, How can team decisions be improved? Delphi technique • Involves generating decision-making alternatives through a series of survey questionnaires Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, .. .Chapter Study Questions What are high-performance teams? How can team processes be improved? How can team communications... maintenance leadership in team dynamics Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & 1-1 1 How can team processes be improved? Disruptive behaviors: • Bullying and being overly aggressive toward other members... that conflict with one another • Forms of role conflict Intrasender, Intersender, Person-role, Inter-role Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Inc How can team processes be improved? Role negotiation