Chapter 8 The Effective Work Team

Question 0

Describe five techniques for leading culturally diverse teams.

Answer 0

Team members’ cultural backgrounds and preferences, discuss differences.

Provide special support and training to new members.

Discover and value new members’ special talents.

Help members from different cultures learn team protocol and values and why the team operates by them.

Strong, productive teams are built around strong relationships that are mutually rewarding.

Question 1

Describe six rules to follow to become an effective team leader.

Answer 1

1. Encourage authority and responsibility.
2. Encourage risk taking and experimentation.
3. Shared vision. Clarify to them where they are headed.
4. Team problem solving.
5. Self-expression and open discussion to conflict.
6. Run team meetings regularly.

Question 2

Describe three team roles and explain how they affect teamwork.

Answer 2

Role #1 the team leader.
Ensures that team members perform tasks.
Assists the team in choosing and focusing on its tasks and goals.
Encourages free expression and balanced participation.

Role #2 the recorder.
Provides the team with written documentation of the ongoing discussion.
Asks for clarification of ideas or statements as necessary.

Role #3 the observer.
Provides the team with observations of its behaviors and processes.
Makes comments that are group directed.

Question 3

Explain the seven normative conditions for effective teams.

Answer 3

1. Shared planning.
2. Shared decision making through consensus.
3. Shared leadership.
4. Shared evaluation.
5. Two-way communication.
6. Mutual trust.
7. Voluntary participation.

Question 4

Define synergy as it applies to team performance.

Answer 4

The interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions.

The team produces a greater effect then an individual.