Week 3/4

Question 1

Define Teams with regards to quality control

Answer 1

“ a small group of people with complementary skills who work together to achieve a common purpose for which they hold themselves collectively responsible”
(Schermerhorn et al, 1996)
“A group of people is not a team. A team is a group of people with a high degree of interdependence geared toward the achievement of a goal or completion of a task, not just a group for administrative convenience”

Question 2

What are the benefits of working within a team

Answer 2

Combine skills and knowledge
Outcome more than the sum of the individuals
Educate and develop members
Teach different ways to work
Ownership of solutions
Acceptance of solutions

Question 3

What are the principles for forming a team

Answer 3

Prepare Team Members: Train, guide, advise, reassure

Clarify Objectives: Establish methods, keep on target

Set Measurable Targets: Clear objectives, measure progress

Question 4

Present R.Meredith Beldin team roles and their definition of working within a team.

Answer 4

‘A team is not a bunch of people with job titles, but a congregation of individuals, each of whom has a role which is understood by other members. Members of a team seek out certain roles and they perform most effectively in the ones that are most natural to them.

Resource investigator
Team-worker
Coordinator
Plant
Monitor Elevuator
Specialist
Implementer
Shaper
Complete Finisher

Question 5

Identify the 3 forms of quality control groups and their attributes:

Answer 5

Quality circle:
Group of 4 – 10 people
From same work area
Meet voluntarily
During normal work hours
Select problem, investigate, find solution
Problem in own area
Present solutions to management

Quality Improvement Team:
Group of 6 - 8 people
Cross discipline, multi-function
‘Voluntary’ or nominated
Meet regularly
Address specific problems
Controlled by Quality Council
Report to management

Quality Council: 
Top level management
Meet regularly
Assess progress in Quality improvement
Identify improvement projects
Decide priorities
Allocate resources
Authorise improvement solutions

Summary:
Quality Circle- self organised group of co-workers
Quality Improvement Team -Cross discipline
Quality Council – Management group that decides on projects, review quality improvement allocate resources

Question 6

What are the stages that occur during the lifetime of a team?

Answer 6

1. Forming:
   The forming stage involves a period of orientation and getting acquainted. Uncertainty is high during this stage, and people are looking for leadership and authority. A member who asserts authority or is knowledgeable may be looked to take control.
2. Storming
   The storming stage is the most difficult and critical stage to pass through. It is a period marked by conflict and competition as individual personalities emerge. Team performance may actually decrease in this stage because energy is put into unproductive activities. Members may disagree on team goals, and subgroups and cliques may form around strong personalities or areas of agreement. To get through this stage, members must work to overcome obstacles, to accept individual differences, and to work through conflicting ideas on team tasks and goals. Teams can get bogged down in this stage. Failure to address conflicts may result in long-term problems.
3. Norming
   If teams get through the storming stage, conflict is resolved and some degree of unity emerges. In the norming stage, a consensus develops around who the leader or leaders are, and individual member’s roles. Interpersonal differences begin to be resolved, and a sense of cohesion and unity emerges. Team performance increases during this stage as members learn to cooperate and begin to focus on team goals.
4. Performing
   In the performing stage, consensus and cooperation have been well-established and the team is mature, organized, and well-functioning. There is a clear and stable structure, and members are committed to the team’s mission. Problems and conflicts still emerge, but they are dealt with constructively. (We will discuss the role of conflict and conflict resolution in the next section). The team is focused on problem-solving and meeting team goals.
5. Mourning/forming (where teams are disbanded and new teams form) :
   most of the team’s goals have been accomplished. The emphasis is on wrapping up final tasks and documenting the effort and results. As the workload is diminished, individual members may be reassigned to other teams, and the team disbands.