Building Teams and Work Groups

Groups vs. Teams

Team: A group of people working together towards a common goal with high cohesiveness.
Group: A collection of individuals who may not necessarily share the same goal.

Types of Teams

  • Cross-functional: Members from different departments.
  • Self-managed: Autonomous teams without external control.
  • Task force: Temporary team for a specific project or problem.
  • Process improvement: Focused on enhancing organizational processes.
  • Virtual: Teams that use technology to collaborate remotely.

Benefits of Teams

  • Increased creativity, problem-solving, and innovation.
  • Higher quality decisions and improved processes.
  • Enhanced global competitiveness.
  • Improved communication.
  • Reduced turnover and absenteeism.
  • Increased employee morale.

Limitations of Teams

  • Group hate: Dislike of working in teams.
  • Social loafing: Reduced individual effort in a group setting.
  • Risky shift: Tendency to make riskier decisions in a group.
  • Groupthink: Agreement to avoid conflict rather than critical thinking.

Groupthink

Defined as agreeing reluctantly with a group's decision to maintain harmony, potentially leading to poor outcomes.

Conditions for Groupthink

  • Group cohesiveness.
  • Illusion of invulnerability.
  • Illusion of morality.
  • Rationalization.
  • Stereotyping.
  • Direct pressure on dissenters.
  • Self-censorship.
  • Illusion of unanimity.

Example of Challenger

  • The Challenger disaster is presented as an example. Technical issues with O-rings combined with flawed group decision-making contributed to the catastrophe.

Stages of Group Development (Tuckman's Model)

  1. Forming: Group assembles; uncertainty is high.
  2. Storming: Conflicts arise as members compete for leadership.
  3. Norming: Relationships develop, and norms are established.
  4. Performing: The group is fully functional and cohesive.
  5. Adjourning: The group disbands after achieving its goal.

Key Considerations

  • The model is not linear; groups can move back and forth between stages.
  • Groups need management and leadership to navigate stages effectively.

Corrective Process for Group Problems

  1. Diagnose the problem.
  2. Define behaviors.
  3. Address unsupportive behaviors.
  4. Develop action plans.
  5. Execute the action.