BUAD309 Chapter 10

Multiteam Systems

A collection of 2 or more interdependent teams that share a superordinate goal A team of teams

Work Team

A group whose individual efforts result in performance that is greater than the sum of the individual outputs

What does social loafing illustrate?

A process loss from using teams

Reflexivity

A team characteristic of reflecting on and adjusting the master plan when necessary

How is a work team characterized?

By the availability of complementary skills among members

How are work groups characterized?

By the goal of sharing information among members

What is a key component of an effective team under the category of contextual factors?

Climate of trust

What happens when teams have excess members?

Cohesiveness declines

What type of people are valuable in teams because they're good at backing up other team members and sense when their support is truly needed?

Conscientiousness People

Which pair of personality dimensions contribute to high team effectiveness?

Conscientiousness and Openness to Experience

What are the 3 categories into which the key components of effective teams are grouped?

Context Composition Process Factors

What are cross functional teams used for?

Developing new ideas and coordinating complex projects

What does dissimilar mental models lead to?

Disagreements over the methods to be applied for task completion

Cross-Functional Teams

Employees from the SAME level, but different work areas who come together to accomplish a task

What is desirable when a crucial project is delegated to a virtual team?

Engaging in close monitoring of the work being done by the team throughout the project

What type of reward system is likely to reinforce team effort and commitment?

Gainsharing

How does the extensive use of work teams benefit organizations?

Generating a potential for creating greater outputs without increasing inputs

Self-Managed Work Teams

Groups of 10-15 people who perform highly related or interdependent jobs and take on many responsibilities of their former supervisors

Problem Solving Teams

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

What increases team efficacy?

Helping the team achieve small successes

What are characteristics of effective teams?

High mutual trust Good communication Bother internal and external supportive environments

What leads to higher employee turnover?

If team members have dissimilar experiences

Work Group

Interacts primarily to share information, rather than to engage in work that requires joint effort

When is the work of a group better done in teams if the members of the team are ____?

Interdependent

What do effective teams do in regard to team processes?

Invest time and effort to discuss and agree on a purpose that belongs to them both collectively and individually

Negotiation Training

Is useful in creating team players

What are virtual teams characterized by?

Low social rapport and direct interaction

In which team is leadership of most importance to coordinate the efforts of various teams in order to produce a desired outcome?

Multiteam Systems

Do problem solving teams have authority to implement changes?

No

Do self managed work teams typically manage conflict well?

No

Mental Models

Organized cognitive representations of the key elements within a teams environment that team members share

What can problem solving teams do?

Provide recommendations after a discussion amongst department members

What must be avoided if one wants to create and maintain an effective team?

Relationship Conflicts

Adviser Role

Responsible for encouraging the search for more information

Controller Role

Responsible for examining details and enforcing rules

What is the goal of work groups?

Sharing relevant information

Effective teams translate their common purpose into ____ goals?

Specific

Organizational Demography

Suggests that attributes such as age or the date of joining should help the organization in predicting employee turnover in the company

When teams are performing nonroutine activities what stimulates discussion, promotes critical assessment of problems and options and can lead to better team decisions?

Task Conflicts

What is a process variable that influences effectiveness of a team?

Team Efficacy

Virtual Teams

Teams that use computer technology to tie together physically dispersed members in order to achieve common goals. Some thrive, others do not

Team Efficacy

The belief that effective teams have in their ability to succeed

What can the current popularity of teams be attributed to?

The fact that they represent a better way to use employee talents

What strategy is desirable for making effective teams?

The preference of individual members to work as a part of groups must be considered when forming teams

How do work teams generate positive synergy?

Through coordinated effort

Why should members be selected to ensure all the various roles are filled?

To create successful teams

Newly formed culturally diverse teams _____ as compared to newly formed culturally homogenous teams?

Underperform

What kind of team allows for collaboration between team members who are physically dispersed?

Virtual Teams

When is diversity an asset for teams?

When tasks require a variety of viewpoints

When should work be performed by an individual?

When the work is simple and does not require diverse input

What is the difference between work groups and work teams?

Work teams generate a potential for an organization to generate greater outputs with no increase in inputs, while work groups cannot perform this function.

Do self managed work teams have the authority to implement changes?

Yes