Organizational Behavior (Teams)
Comprehensive Interdependence
Task interdependence in which each member has a great deal of discretion in terms of what he/she does and with whom he/she interacts during the course of the collaboration involved in accomplishing the team's work.
Pooled Interdependence
Task interdependence in which group members complete their work independently, and then this work is "piled up" to represent the group's output.
Reciprocal Interdependence
Task interdependence in which members are specialized to perform certain tasks, but still interact with a subset of other members to complete the team's work.
Sequential Interdependence
Task interdependence in which tasks are done in a prescribed order, and the group is structured such that the members specialize in these tasks.
Motivational Loss
The reduction in motivation an individual experiences in a team setting.
Brainstorming
A face-to-face group meeting in which team members offer as many ideas as possible.
Team
A group of two or more people who work interdependently over some time period to accomplish common goals related to some task-oriented purpose.
Role
A set of behaviors a person is expected to display in a given context.
Virtual Team
A team in which members are geographically dispersed and interdependent activity occurs electronically.
Punctuated Equilibrium
A theory of team development in which teams quickly establish a routine, and then at the midpoint of a project, the team reassesses its approach.
Four Stage Theory
A theory that suggests teams develop in a sequence of stages: forming, storming, norming, and performing.
Team Process
Activities and Interactions that occur within teams that contribute to their ultimate end goals.
Taskwork Processes
Activities of team members that relate directly to the accomplishment of team tasks.
Nominal Group Technique
An approach to generating ideas and solutions that involves both individual work and work in team meetings.
Deep-Level Diversity
Diversity regarding characteristics that are less directly observable.
Surface-Level Diversity
Diversity regarding observable characteristics.
Cohesion
Emotional attachment that tends to foster high levels of motivation and commitment to the team.
Coordination Loss
Extra effort expended in order to accomplish and integrate work in a team context.
Team States
Feelings and thoughts that coalesce in the minds of team members as a consequence of their experience working together.
Teamwork Processes
Interpersonal activities that facilitate the accomplishment of the team's work but do not directly involve task accomplishment itself.
Team Characteristics
Team Type, Team Interdependence, and Team Composition
Performing
Team members are comfortable working within their roles, and the team makes progress toward goals.
Forming
Team members orient themselves by trying to understand the boundaries in the team.
Norming
Team members realize that they need to work together to accomplish team goals, and, consequently they begin to cooperate with each other.
Storming
Team members remain committed to ideas they bring with them to the team.
Potency
The degree to which members believe that the team can be effective across a variety of situations.
Goal Interdependence
The degree to which members share the team goal and have personal goals that are aligned.
Task Interdependence
The degree to which team members rely on other team members as the team carries out its work.
Outcome Interdependence
The degree to which team members share in the team rewards and outcomes.
Mental Models
The level of common understanding among team members with regard to important aspects of the team and its task.
Team Composition
The mix of people who make up a team in terms of their characteristics.