eleventh editio

organizational behavio
r

stephen p. robbins
 Chapter 9

Understanding
Work Teams

ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR
S T E P H E N P. R O B B I N S
E L E V E N T H E D I T I O N
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 After studying this chapter,
O B J E C T I V E S

you should be able to:

1. Explain the growing popularity of teams in

organizations.
2. Contrast teams with groups.
L E A R N I N G

3. Identify four types of teams.

4. Specify the characteristics of effective teams.
5. Explain how organizations can create team
players.
6. Describe conditions under which teams are
preferred over individuals.
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Why
Why Have
Have Teams
Teams Become
Become So
So Popular
Popular

Teams typically outperform individuals.

Teams use employee talents better.
Teams are more flexible and responsive to
changes in the environment.
Teams facilitate employee involvement.
Teams are an effective way to democratize and
organization and increase motivation.

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Team
Team Versus
Versus Group:
Group: Whats
Whats the
the Difference
Difference
Work Group
A group that interacts primarily
to share information and to
make decisions to help each
group member perform within
his or her area of responsibility.

Work Team
A group whose individual efforts
result in a performance that is
greater than the sum of the
individual inputs.
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Comparing
Comparing Work
Work Groups
Groups and
and Work
Work Teams
Teams

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E X H I B I T 91
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Types
Types of
of Teams
Teams

Problem-Solving Teams
Groups of 5 to 12 employees from the
same department who meet for a few
hours each week to discuss ways of
improving quality, efficiency, and the
work environment.

Self-Managed Work Teams

Groups of 10 to 15 people who take
on the responsibilities of their former
supervisors.
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Types
Types of
of Teams
Teams (contd)
(contd)
Cross-Functional Teams
Employees from about the same hierarchical level,
but from different work areas, who come together to
accomplish a task.

Task forces

Committees

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Types
Types of
of Teams
Teams (contd)
(contd)

Virtual Teams
Teams that use computer
technology to tie together
physically dispersed
members in order to
achieve a common goal.

Team
TeamCharacteristics
Characteristics
1.1. The
Theabsence
absenceof
ofparaverbal
paraverbaland
andnonverbal
nonverbalcues
cues
2.2. AAlimited
limitedsocial
socialcontext
context
3.3. The
Theability
abilityto
toovercome
overcometime
timeand
andspace
spaceconstraints
constraints
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 AATeam-
Team-
Effectiveness
Effectiveness
Model
Model

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E X H I B I T 93
E X H I B I T 93
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Creating
Creating Effective
Effective Teams
Teams

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Creating
Creating Effective
Effective Teams
Teams (contd)
(contd)

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Key
KeyRoles
Roles
of
of Teams
Teams

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E X H I B I T 94
E X H I B I T 94
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Creating
Creating Effective
Effective Teams
Teams (contd)
(contd)

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Creating
Creating Effective
Effective Teams
Teams (contd)
(contd)

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 Effects
Effects of
of Group
Group Processes
Processes

=
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X H I B I T 94
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Creating
Creating Effective
Effective Teams:
Teams: Diversity
Diversity

Group Demography
The degree to which members of a group share a
common demographic attribute, such as age, sex,
race, educational level, or length of service in the
organization, and the impact of this attribute on
turnover.

Cohorts
Individuals who, as part of a
group, hold a common
attribute.
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Turning
Turning Individuals
Individuals Into
Into Team
Team Players
Players
The Challenges
Overcoming individual resistance to team membership.
Countering the influence of individualistic cultures.
Introducing teams in an organization that has
historically valued individual achievement.
Shaping Team Players
Selecting employees who can fulfill their team roles.
Training employees to become team players.
Reworking the reward system to encourage
cooperative efforts while continuing to recognize
individual
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Teams
Teams and
and Quality
Quality Management
Management
Team Effectiveness and Quality Management
Requires That Teams:
1. Are small enough to be efficient and effective.
2. Are properly trained in required skills.
3. Allocated enough time to work on problems.
4. Are given authority to resolve problems and take
corrective action.
5. Have a designated champion to call on when
needed.

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Beware:
Beware: Teams
Teams Arent
Arent Always
Always the
the Answer
Answer
Three tests to see if a team fits the situation:
Is the work complex and is there a need for different
perspectives?
Does the work create a common purpose or set of
goals for the group that is larger than the aggregate of
the goals for individuals?
Are members of the group involved in interdependent
tasks?

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