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
