Chapter 10: Team Dynamics and Effectiveness

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Questions and Answers

What does "Team member trust" impact?

Performance

What is the impact of high trust on a team?

Positive effect on team performance

What is the impact of lack of trust on a team?

Negative effect on team performance

Team member trust is considered crucial for team performance.

True Signup and view all the answers

What do modern organizations often do in terms of teams?

Give teams power Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of a work team?

Groups of individuals working together towards a common goal Signup and view all the answers

All work should be done by teams.

False Signup and view all the answers

What type of task is defined as "Additive task definition"?

Tasks where individual contributions sum up to the total outcome Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of a "Collective effort definition" task?

Tasks requiring collaboration for successful completion Signup and view all the answers

What is the key distinction between work groups and work teams?

Work Group Versus Team Signup and view all the answers

What does SMART stand for in the context of team goals?

Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound Signup and view all the answers

What are team norms and what is their impact?

Team norms are influential on behavior and hard to change. Signup and view all the answers

What was the focus of "Project Aristotle"?

Research project focusing on team effectiveness Signup and view all the answers

What is "The Team Charter"?

A document outlining the purpose and goals of a team Signup and view all the answers

What are Team Mental Models?

Shared understanding among team members that influences decision making and performance Signup and view all the answers

Teams develop over time.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the "Five-Stage Model"?

The Five-Stage Model is a widely recognized framework that outlines the typical stages of team development from forming to adjourning. Signup and view all the answers

What is the "Forming definition"?

Initial stage of team development where members get acquainted Signup and view all the answers

What is the "Team Performance Curve"?

Illustrates potential performance fluctuations during team development stages Signup and view all the answers

What is the "Input-process-output model"?

Describes dimensions of team effectiveness Signup and view all the answers

What are the categories of team effectiveness?

Includes performance, behaviors, and attitudes Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Team Dynamics and Effectiveness

Team member trust significantly impacts team performance. High trust leads to positive outcomes, while a lack of trust negatively affects performance. Team member trust is essential for optimal performance.
Modern organizations often empower teams, recognizing the value of collaborative work.
Work teams are groups of individuals working together to achieve a common goal. Not all work should be done by teams. Teams are best suited for tasks requiring collective effort, not just additive contributions.

Stages of Team Development

Teams evolve over time, characterized by different stages. The five-stage model describes these stages:
Forming: Initial stage, members get acquainted.
Storming: Potential conflicts arise as members assert their opinions.
Norming: Members establish norms and cohesion.
Performing: Team operates efficiently, achieving goals.
Adjourning: Final stage, team disbands after completing tasks.
The team performance curve illustrates potential performance fluctuations during these stages.

Team Effectiveness and Performance

Teams are evaluated based on performance, behaviors, and attitudes. Team effectiveness is measured using metrics across various categories.
Team performance includes task, process, and individual development metrics. Team affect and learning, along with a high learning orientation, are all impactful factors.
Team learning involves translating individual development into team performance. The process and outcomes of developing new ideas are part of team creativity and innovation; expressing positive affect and socializing are related, as well as creativity and assessing team improvisation. Leader influence also plays a role.
Team cohesion impacts performance and is determined by factors like attractiveness and prestige. Behavioral indicators and assessing cohesion are important. How leaders interact with and influence team members also matters.

Team Decision-making

Avoiding groupthink is vital for effective decision-making. This involves understanding its symptoms (e.g., directive leaders discussing fewer alternatives), and employing strategies to minimize it.
Diverse decision-making techniques can be employed, such as brainstorming, using IDEO's rules, consensus-building, multivoting, the nominal group technique, and the stepladder method. It's important to carefully assess which method is most suitable.

Team Issues

Social loafing, where individuals contribute less to a collective effort, can hinder team performance. This is where team members are less likely to contribute, whereas those on virtual teams face additional challenges.
Virtual teams face challenges like building trust and effective communication due to geographic dispersal and computer-based interaction.
Self-managed work teams (SMWTs) may face resistance, but cultural assumptions should be considered when implementing them.
Team diversity, including the positive impacts, can have a significant influence on team outcomes. Diversity may also enhance creativity and innovation within teams.

Leadership and Empowerment

Effective leadership climates and empowered teams are crucial for higher team productivity. Shared leadership and empowering leaders who act as coaches are linked to team success.
Leaders can contribute to creating a positive team dynamic by participating in decision-making, involving employees, and facilitating brainstorming sessions and consensus-building procedures.

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Description

Explore the crucial elements of team dynamics and performance. This quiz covers the impact of trust among team members, the importance of collaboration, and the five stages of team development. Test your understanding of how effective teams operate and evolve.