W2.2: Understanding Work Teams

Question 1

Why are teams popular?

Answer 1

1. Flexible and responsive to change
2. Can quickly assemble, deploy, refocus and disband
3. Effective means to democratise organisations, and increase employee involvement
4. Introduce collaborative mindset

Question 2

What is the difference between groups and teams?

Answer 2

1. Goal
2. Synergy
3. Accountability
4. Skills

Question 3

What are the 4 types of teams?

Answer 3

1. Problem-solving: discuss ways of improving quality, efficiency, and the work environment.
2. Self-Managed: groups of employees who perform highly related or interdependent jobs and take on many of the responsibilities of their former supervisors.
3. Cross Functional: Employees from about the same hierarchical level, but from different work areas, who come together to accomplish a task.
4. Virtual: Teams that use computer technology to tie together
   physically dispersed members in order to achieve a common goal.

Question 4

What are the characteristics of an effective team?

Answer 4

Context

• adequate resources
• leadership/structure
• climate of trust
• performance evaluation/reward systems

Composition

• abilities
• personality
• allocating roles
• diversity
• size of teams
• flexibility
• preferences

Process

• common purpose
• specific goals
• team efficacy
• conflict levels
• social loafing

Question 5

How do organizations create team players?

Answer 5

Selecting: Hiring team players

Training: Creating team players

Rewarding: Providing incentives to be a good player

Question 6

How do you decide to use teams instead of individuals?

Answer 6

• Can the work be done better by one person?
• Does the work create a common goal/purpose?
• Are the members of the group interdependent?