Chapter 9 Effective Work Teams Stephen W. Nason

HKUST Business School Dr. Stephen Nason Prentice Hall, 2001Chapter 92 Why Have Teams Become So Popular? Performance on complex tasks Utilization of employee talents Flexibility and responsiveness Motivational properties

HKUST Business School Dr. Stephen Nason Prentice Hall, 2001Chapter 93 Share information Neutral (may be negative) Individual Random and varied Goal Synergy Accountability Skills Collective performance Positive Individual and mutual Complementary Work Groups Work Teams Comparing Work Groups and Work Teams

HKUST Business School Dr. Stephen Nason 4 Important Organizational Teams Problem Solving Teams Self-Managed Work Teams Cross Functional Teams Virtual Teams

HKUST Business School Dr. Stephen Nason 5 FIGURE 11.4 A Cross-Functional Research and Development Team: Skunk Works

HKUST Business School Dr. Stephen Nason 6 Virtual Teams Cross-functional teams that operate across space, time and organizational boundaries using electronic technology Increasingly possible because of technology and knowledge-based work Increasingly necessary because of globalization, knowledge management, and need for team work

HKUST Business School Dr. Stephen Nason 7 Virtual Teams Advantages: overcome time and space constraints allows people to work together who otherwise would never interact can be very effective when need rapid response Disadvantages absence of nonverbal communication hinders communication effectiveness Limited social context reduced commitment and cohesion