Teams in Organisations

Question 1

Why have teams become popular?

Answer 1

• The need for flexibility in the dynamic global economy
• Teams are more flexible and responsive to changing events
• Provides opportunities for cross functional cooperation and coordination
• Help to democratize the organization: increase employee participation and motivatin
• Problems have become more complex requiring multiple skills, abilities and experience (diverse teams)

Question 2

Define team?

Answer 2

A small number of people with complementary skills committed to a common purpose and set common expectations (performance outcomes0 for which they hold themselves accountable

Question 3

What are the benefits of teamwork?

Answer 3

• Synergy: Creative cooperation to achieve something beyond the capabilities of lone individuals
• Generate more complete information and knowledge (more input, heterogeneity into decision process, diverse views)
• Offer a work environment where people feel more satisfied and empowered
• Develop trust for each other, team becomes a social network
• Increased acceptance of a solution
• Members who partake in decision making support and encourage others to accept

Question 4

What are the limitations of Teamwork?

Answer 4

• Groupthink
• Complacency
• Domination by few members
• Time consuming
• Ambiguous responsibility
• Social loafing

Question 5

What are the characteristics of highly effective teams?

Answer 5

• Team charter and norms
• Widely shared team goals
• Team cohesion and task interdependence
• Team demographics and size
• Clearly defined team member roles and responsibilities
• Positive interpersonal relationships
• Clearly stated operating procedures
• Effective conflict resolution strategies
• High-level interpersonal communication
• Strong top management support

Question 6

What are the roles of team leadership

Answer 6

Chief motivator
Coach and mentor
Role model
Culture enforcer
Cheerleader
Resource person

Question 7

Explain Ginnett’s Team Leadership Model (TLM)

Answer 7

• Leadership effectiveness–team achieving its objectives
• Team Leadership Model (TLM) <-Team Effectiveness Leadership Model
• A mechanism to first identify what a team needs to be effective,and then point to the leader either toward the roadblocks that are hindering the team or toward ways to make the team even more effective

Question 8

Explain Groupthink?

Answer 8

It describes situations in which group pressures for conformity deter the group from critically appraising unusual, minority, or unpopular views.

Question 9

How can you overcome Groupthink?

Answer 9

■ Monitor group size
■ Group leaders play an impartial role
■ Appoint a Devil’s Advocate
■ Ask members to submit views in writing
■ Diversify the group
■ Use exercises that stimulate active discussion of diverse alternatives

Question 10

What is social loafing?

Answer 10

The tendency of individuals to put in less effort when working in a group context. also known as the Ringelmann effect

Question 11

How can you prevent social loafing?

Answer 11

○ Clearly define each member’s tasks in front of the entire group.
○ Build a cohesive group.
○ Make sure individuals feel that they are needed.
○ Design and communicate to the entire group a system for evaluating each person’s contribution.