Organizational Behavior Chapter 9

Copyright ©2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

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Chapter 10

Understanding Work Teams

Essentials of Organizational Behavior

12eStephen P. Robbins & Timothy A. Judge


After studying this chapter,

you should be able to:1. Contrast groups and teams, and analyze the

growing popularity of using teams in organizations.

2. Compare and contrast four types of teams.3. Identify the characteristics of effective teams.4. Show how organizations can create team

players.5. Decide when to use individuals instead of teams.6. Show how our understanding of teams differs in

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Why Are Teams So Popular?

Increased competition forced restructuring for efficiency and effectiveness

Teams: Better utilize employee talents Are more flexible and responsive to change Democratize and motivate

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Groups and Teams Work group: Interacts

primarily to share information and to make decisions to help one another perform within each member’s area of responsibility

Work team: Generates positive synergy through coordinated effort; individual efforts result in a level of performance that is greater than the sum of those individual inputs

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Comparing Work Groups and Work Teams

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Four Types of Teams

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Problem-Solving Teams Members often from

the same department Share ideas or suggest

improvements Rarely given authority

to unilaterally implement any of their suggested actions

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Self-Managed Work Teams10-15 employees in highly-related jobsTeam takes on supervisory responsibilities:

Work planning and scheduling Assigning tasks Operating decisions/actions Working with customers

May select and evaluate membersEffectiveness is dependent on the situation

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Cross-Functional TeamsMembers from same level, but diverse

areas within and between organizationsExchange informationDevelop new ideas and solve problemsCoordinate complex projectsDevelopment may be time-consuming

due to complexity and diversity

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Virtual Teams Computer

technology ties dispersed team together

Special challenges Less social rapport More task-oriented Members less

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Key Components of Effective Teams

Context Composition Process

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Contextual ComponentsPresence of adequate resourcesEffective leadership and structureClimate of trust in the teamPerformance evaluation and reward

system that reflects team contributions

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Team Composition Components

Abilities of members Technical expertise Problem-solving Interpersonal

Personality Conscientious and open-

minded Allocation of roles Diversity of members

Cultural differences Size of teams Member preferences 10-13


Process Components Common plan and

purpose Specific goals Team efficacy Common mental

models Low levels of

conflict Minimized social

loafing 10-14


Turning Individuals into Team Players

Selection: Need employees who have the interpersonal as well as technical skills

Training: Workshops on problem-solving, communications, negotiation, conflict-management and coaching skills

Rewards: Encourage cooperative efforts rather than individual ones

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Teams Aren’t Always the Answer: Three Tests

Complexity of Work: Can the work be done better by more than one person?

Common Purpose: Does the work create a common purpose or set of goals for the people in the group that is more than the aggregate of individual goals?

Interdependence: Are the members of the group interdependent?

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Organizational Behavior Chapter 9

Business

Transcript of Organizational Behavior Chapter 9