Chapter 16: Teamwork in Organizations

1
TYPES OF GROUPS/TEAMS
2
Team

• Unit of people with
• common Goals
• Dependence on each other
• Usually means
• Cross-Functional composition
• Some degree of Self-Management

3
Survey What Self-Managing Teams Manage
Percentage of Companies in which
Self-ManagingTeams Perform These Management
Functions.
Schedule work assignments 67Work with outside
customers 67Conduct training 59Set
production goals/quotas 56Work with
suppliers/vendors 44Purchase
equipment/services 43Develop budgets 39Do
performance appraisals 36Hire
co-workers 33Fire co-workers 14
4
Potential Benefits of Teams

• Superior performance
• Motivation/Satisfaction of members
• Learning from others

5
Potential Costs of Teams

• Time consumption
• Conflict
• Social Loafing

6
Social Loafing

• More of a problem in traditionally
  individualistic cultures (e.g., U.S.)
• Recommendations
• Form Smaller Teams
• Have Individually-Assigned Tasks
• Measure Individual Performance
• Include peer evaluations

7
Workflow Interdependence

• Pooled Interdependence
• Output of people working independently is summed
• Sequential Interdependence
• Work moves from Person A to B to C, but not in
  any other order
• Reciprocal Interdependence
• People work cooperatively in no fixed order

8
Interdependence Management Implications
Client
Client
Client
9
Team Size
10
Team Size

• Small Teams
• Decisions made more quickly
• More participation per member
• Members report greater satisfaction

11
Team Size

• Large teams
• Positive
• More ideas
• More acceptance of decisions by others
• Negative
• More Social Loafing
• May be good or bad
• Bolder or riskier actions

12
Homogeneous vs. Heterogeneous Teams
Homogeneous Teams
Heterogeneous Teams

• Less conflict
• Faster team development
• Perform better on simple tasks requiring
  cooperation

• More conflict
• Slower team development
• Perform better on complex problems - more creative

13
Norms
Norm A standard of behavior agreed upon by
members of a group/team.

• Can lead to positive and/or negative outcomes

14
Determinants of Status in a Group/Team

• Status in other contexts
• Status of ones associates (friends, relatives,
  etc.)
• Adherence to group norms
• Roles assumed in the group

15
Task Specialist Role

• Provide
• Information
• Ideas
• Opinions

16
Socioemotional Role

• Support Social Unity
• Encourage
• Reduce tension

17
Team Member Roles
High
Task Specialist Role
Dual Role
Member Task Behavior
Nonparticipator Role (Social Loafing)
Socioemotional Role
Low
High
Low
Member Social Behavior