Chapter 10 - Understanding work teams Flashcards
Workgroup
A group that interacts primarily to share information and make decisions to help each member perform within their area of responsibility
Work team
Generates positive synergy through coordination
The individual efforts result in a level of performance greater than the sum of the individual inputs
Problem solving teams
Groups of 5 to 12 employees from the same department who meet for a few hours each week to discuss ways of improving quality efficiency, and the work environment
Self managed work teams
Groups of 10 to 15 people who take on the responsibilities of their former supervisors
Cross functional teams
Employees from about the same hierarchical level but from different work areas who come together to accomplish a task
Virtual teams
Teams that use computer technology to tie together physically dispersed members in order to achieve a common goal
Multiteam systems
Collections of two or more interdependent teams that share a superordinate goal
When is a multi team system required
Multiteam is the best choice either when a team has become too large to be effective or when teams with distinct functions need to be highly coordinated
What are the 3 categories for identifying factors related to team effectiveness?
Resources and other
Team’s composition
Process variables
The 4 contextual factors most significantly related to team performance are
Adequate resources
Leadership and structure
A climate trust
A performance evaluation and reward system that reflects team contributions
The team composition category includes variables that relate to how teams should be staffed
The abilities and personalities of team members
Allocation of roles
Diversity
Cultural differences
Size of the team
Members’ preferences for teamwork
The category related to team effectiveness includes process variables such as:
Member commitment to a common plan and purpose. Effective teams show reflexivity, meaning they reflect on and adjust their purpose when necessary
Specific team goals
Team identity
Team cohesion
Mental models
Team identity
Can be described as team members’ affinity for and sense of belongingness to their teams
Team cohesion
Occurs when team members are emotionally attached and bonded to one another and committed to the team
Mental models
Can be described as the team members’ knowledge and beliefs about how the work gets done by the team
