Building Winning Teams

Introduction to Human Resource Management

• Focus on building winning teams

Learning Objectives

• Define a group
• Explain the reasons for group formation
• Discuss group dynamics
• Understand group cohesiveness
• Identify characteristics of effective groups
• Define a TEAM and explain teamwork importance
• Identify barriers to effective teamwork
• Explore tools for building teams
• Discuss Tuckman's Theory of Team Formation

Definition of a Group

• Forsyth Definition: A group is two or more individuals connected through social relationships.
• Handy Definition: A group is a collection of individuals who perceive themselves as a group, including:
  • Sense of identity and belonging
  • Loyalty and acceptance
  • Purpose and leadership

Classifying Groups

Types of Groups

• Primary Groups: Small, long-term (e.g., family, friends)

  • Characterized by face-to-face interaction and cohesiveness
  • Serve as a primary source of socialization, influencing attitudes and values.

• Secondary Groups: Larger, more organized (e.g., work groups, clubs)

  • Influence members’ attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.

Formation of Groups

• Planned Groups: Deliberately formed by members or external authority.
• Emergent Groups: Gradually formed through repeated interactions among individuals.

Entitativity

• Definition: Extent to which individuals in a group are perceived as a single entity.
• Influenced by:
  • Common fate: shared outcomes
  • Similarities: behaviors and characteristics
  • Proximity: closeness of individuals in a group

Reasons for Group Formation

Individual Perspective

• Satisfy social needs
• Develop a positive self-image
• Help achieve tasks

Organizational Perspective

• Perform collective tasks
• Test and ratify decisions
• Consult and negotiate
• Create and exchange ideas

Types of Groups Based on Structure

• Formal Groups: Task-oriented with defined roles and authority.
• Informal Groups: Unstructured with fluctuating membership, leaders emerge through personal power.

Group Dynamics

• Involves the social relationships within groups, characterized by:
  • Power and fluidity
  • Living systems
  • Influential nature, shaping society

Role Theory

• Roles are expected behaviors based on social positions:
  • Role Ambiguity: Unclear expectations leads to dissatisfaction.
  • Role Conflict: Different expectations from members.
  • Role Overload: Exceeding one’s capacity can cause stress.

Group Cohesiveness

• Forces that act on members to remain in the group include:
  • Attraction to the group
  • Motivation to remain
  • Resistance to leaving

Characteristics of Cohesive Groups

• Higher productivity, quality, and cooperation
• Better communication and attentiveness

Effective Groups

Management Characteristics

• Social skills to foster positive relationships
• Clear understanding of roles and trust
• Problem-solving abilities
• Inclusive decision-making and consensus

Belbin’s Ideal Group Composition

• Effective groups include a balanced mix of nine roles:
  • Coordinator
  • Shaper
  • Plant
  • Monitor-Evaluator
  • Resource- Investigator
  • Implementer
  • Team Worker
  • Finisher
  • Specialist

Threats to Group Effectiveness

• Pressure to Conform: Stifles creativity.
• Groupthink: Prevents consideration of alternatives.
• Social Loafing: Reduced effort in larger groups.
• Risky-Shift: More risk-taking in groups.
• Group Polarization: Increased extremity in perspectives.

Definition and Importance of a Team

• Team Definition: Small number of people with complementary skills committed to a common purpose and mutually accountable.

Importance of Teamwork

• Competitive advantage through:
  • Increased performance and synergy
  • Responsiveness to change
  • Innovation and motivation

Characteristics of Effective Teams

• Shared goals and commitment
• Trust and dependency
• Full participation and consensus in decision-making
• Open communication and conflict resolution

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs in Team Building

• Members' needs include:
  • Sense of belonging
  • Sense of worth
  • Sense of competence

Barriers to Teamwork

1. Personal Insecurity: Lack of confidence among members.
2. Unhealthy Competition: Undermines collaborative efforts.
3. Non-communication: Hinders open dialogues.
4. Fear of Change: Resistance to adapting can prevent growth.

Overcoming Barriers

• Encourage open communication, respect, and equal status among members.

Tools for Building Effective Teams

• Respect, Reward, and Importance: Recognize everyone’s contributions.
• Inspire and Motivate: Foster an environment for creativity over predictability.

Hollington’s Eight Steps

1. Instill a sense of purpose
2. Get processes right
3. Recruit effectively
4. Leadership selection
5. Succession planning
6. Foster fun in teamwork
7. Allow team-driven goal setting
8. Review performance collectively.

Tuckman’s Theory of Team Development

1. Forming: Initial uncertainty among members.
2. Storming: Conflict arises, authority is challenged.
3. Norming: Norms develop, trust and cooperation increase.
4. Performing: Team focuses on achieving goals effectively.
5. Adjourning: Group disbands after the completion of tasks.

Team Cohesion and Its Importance

• Strong bonds lead to motivation and satisfaction among members.
• Successful cohesion results in high performance and job satisfaction, leading to lower turnover rates.

Establishing Team Norms

• Norms provide acceptable behavior standards, enhancing group conformity and reducing conflict.
• Types of norms include Appearance, Performance, Social, Resource.

Development of Norms

• Norms may result from:
  • Previous experiences
  • Managerial influence
  • Members' prior teamwork experiences

Reasons for Team Failure

• Attributed to both management errors and team member issues:
  • Unrealistic expectations and conflicts can hinder success.
  • Issues such as lack of ability and interest can also lead to failures.