1.2 Effecitve Teams

Question 1

Types of teams

Answer 1

Hierarchical teams (permanent)
Specialist teams (permanent)
Ad-hoc teams (temporary)
Matrix teams (temporary )

Question 2

Hierarchical teams

Answer 2

Between line manager(s) and subordinates
Eg departments such as marketing, admin IT etc

Question 3

Specialist teams

Answer 3

Tasked with a function, for example electricians within a maintenance department, health and safety committee etc

Question 4

Ad-hoc teams

Answer 4

Established for a purpose and disbanded when it is complete such as a research committee or focus group

Question 5

Matrix teams

Answer 5

Involving specialists from different departments and management levels to solve complex problems

Question 6

Team characteristics

Answer 6

• Shared aims so minimal conflict
• supporting each other =listening
  -range of knowledge and skills (roles)
  -4-6 members (or use subgroups)
  -strong leadership and coordination

Question 7

Large team size

Answer 7

Advantages
- a range of skills and experience available from different members
-many members to split work down into many tasks

Disadvantages
-difficult to supervise a larger group
-communication problems can arise
-team members may feel left out
-limit contributions fro members
-lengthier decision making

Question 8

Belbin team theory

Answer 8

According to Belbin a team should be between 4 and 6 people depending on the task. If there are more people in the team then sub teams should be created

Question 9

Belbin team roles

Answer 9

Plant. Coordinator. Complete-finisher
Implementer. Specialist. Resource investigator
Shaper. Team worker Monitor evaluator

Must be a balance between thinkers, doers and carers

Question 10

Belbin team role
plant

Answer 10

Someone who is creative, good at coming up with clever ideas and visionary solutions

Question 11

Belbin team role
Shaper

Answer 11

Someone who gets things going and makes people work towards the goal.
Good at inspiring fellow team mates

Question 12

Belbin team roles
Coordinator

Answer 12

Organises resources and people, manages time well and plans thoroughly

Question 13

Belbin team roles
Implementor

Answer 13

Someone of action, gets tasks started and makes things happen

Question 14

Belbin team roles
Monitor- evaluator

Answer 14

Someone who is methodical and meticulous, who pays close attention to detail and evaluates well

Question 15

Belbin team roles
Complete finisher

Answer 15

Someone who makes sure a task is not left incomplete, will commit to the completion

Question 16

Belbin team roles
Resource investigator

Answer 16

Someone who will network well, seek suppliers and resources, find good deals and opportunities

Question 17

Belbin team roles
Team worker

Answer 17

Someone who works well with others, listens to others and considers their feelings

Question 18

Belbin team roles
Specialist

Answer 18

Someone with specific knowledge and skills

Question 19

Team member skills

Answer 19

Creative Self confident. Listener
Good communicator. Mature. Problem solver
Enthusiastic and motivated. Committed Focused and determined
Dedicated. Organised. Negotiation skills
Leadership ability. Analytical. Assertive
Pays attention to details

Question 20

Stages of team development (Tuckman)

Answer 20

Forming- team members introduced
Storming - members complete for roles, disputes and power struggles arise
Norming- conflicts are resolved and the team begins to work together
Performing- the team works towards effectively reaching its goal

Question 21

Team conflicts

Answer 21

Conflicting goals
Personal disputes
Lack of resources
Changing expectations
Loyalty issues

Question 22

Leadership styles

Answer 22

A leader p can be described as someone who influences others towards the achievement of goals

Autocratic
Democratic
Laissez-faire

Question 23

Autocratic

Answer 23

Makes decisions without consulting team members tends not to involve staff or listen

Question 24

Democratic

Answer 24

Involves staff in decision making and values their opinion
Emphasises on quality circles and work councils

Question 25

Laissez-faire

Answer 25

This leader empowers team members to take control
Works well when creative solutions are needed

Question 26

Benefits of team work

Answer 26

-Draws skills and experiences from various team members allowing multi-tasking
-Quality decisions are made with fewer errors
-Allows brain storming of ideas to lead to innovative solutions
-Empowers employees in decision making which motivates them reducing staff turnover and absenteeism
-Can process large volumes of information and complex tasks efficiently and productively

Question 27

Costs of team work

Answer 27

-Decisions can be lengthy paralysis by analysis
-Conflicts can arise meaning longer storming less performing
-Expensive for team training or if bad decisions are made
-Poor decision may be taken as people feel they may not be completely to blame if all goes wrong
-Lack of motivation may occur, informality may increase if teams are not well led and therefore efficiency will reduce