Download - Collaboration Roadblocks

Collaboration Roadblocks

Prepared by Christopher SmithSeptember 13, 2011

Table of Contents• Defining “collaboration”• Important statistics• Collaboration Roadblocks

o Large Team Sizeo Virtual Participationo Diversityo High Education Levels

• Recommendations• Contact Information

Defining “collaboration”

• When individuals work together to a common purpose to achieve business benefit.

• Examples of collaboration,

• Linux – An open source operating system built by thousands of developers worldwide, working together in creative and efficient ways.

• Toyota – At the heart of the Toyota is a collection of work, communication, and leadership practices that contribute to their successful collaboration efforts.

Important statistics• 67% of employees believe there are colleagues who

can help them do their job better.

• 39% say they have difficulty locating the right people

• Only 25% frequently go outside their department to seek or share knowledge.

• 38% don’t get asked for their help & information

Collaboration Roadblocks• In a survey of over 1,500 employees from 50

teams across15 companies, four common roadblocks to collaboration were found:

1. Large Team Size

2. Virtual Participation

3. Diversity

4. High Education Levels

Reference: Eight Ways to Build Collaborative Teams. Lynda Gratton and Tamara J. Erickson. Harvard Business Review, 2009.

Large Team Size• Context: The average size of team size has

grown over the last decade. Today, it is not uncommon to find teams with over 100 members.

• Fact: When team size exceeds 20 members, the level of natural cooperation decreases.

• Solution: To ensure effective collaboration, try to keep teams small; less than 20 members if possible.

Virtual Participation• Context: Technology has enabled teams

members to work from distances apart.

• Fact: As teams become more virtual, collaboration declines.

• Solution: When possible, team members should be working in the same office space.

Diversity• Context: Today’s workforce includes individuals

from all walks of life.

• Fact: Teams with high levels of diversity can drive innovation, but reduce the chance of knowledge sharing amongst members.

• Solution: Include two or more individuals who have worked together previously on the same project.

High Education Levels• Context: Complex teams often depend on a

variety of specialized, highly educated members.

• Fact: The greater proportion of highly education members on a team, the more likely unproductive conflicts will arise.

• Solution: If possible, keep the need for specialized members to a minimum.

Recommendations• Keep team sizes low. As team size grows,

cooperation declines.

• Encourage your team to work in the office.

• Reduce diversity by including two or more members who have worked together.

• Prepare for conflict between highly educated, specialized members.

“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”

– Henry Ford

Contact InformationHave Questions? Feedback?

LinkedIn: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/chrisasmith

Twitter: http://twitter.com/csedev

Blog: http://www.csedev.com

Email: [email protected]