Topic 3: Teams Flashcards
(13 cards)
What is the difference between a group and a team?
A group is three or more people working together toward a common goal.
A team is a group of people who are collectively accountable for an outcome.
The key difference is that team members’ actions depend on one another, unlike in a group.
What is task interdependence?
It’s the extent to which team members must interact with one another in order to complete their task.
What are the five stages of team development?
Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning.
What are the five characteristics of high-performance teams?
Complementary skills,
small size,
shared purpose,
mutual accountability,
and productive team norms.
What is the ideal size for a high-performance team?
Between 5 to 8 members, rarely more than 10.
What is meant by shared purpose in effective teams?
A clear understanding of the team’s goal (a shared belief), which can be outcome-goals or activity-based goals.
What is mutual accountability?
Team members are mutually accountable for the team’s success.
What is the innocent bystander effect?
When a person is less likely to get involved because others are present, assuming someone else will handle the issue.
What is escalation of commitment?
When teams persist in a failing course of action even when faced with evidence of their error.
What is groupthink?
A pattern of faulty decision-making where members seek agreement at the expense of decision quality.
What are two key strategies for improving team performance?
Holding effective meetings and conducting after-action reviews and process checks.
Name three suggestions for dealing with free riders.
Correctly frame the issue
Ask if the behavior affects other teammates
Collect a balanced set of facts
What is conformity and obedience in teams, and how is it illustrated by the Milgram experiments?
Conformity and obedience occur when a team member with low ability or expertise defers decision-making to others. The Milgram experiments illustrate how individuals obey authority figures even when it conflicts with their personal conscience.
