Teamwork in the Workplace
What are the advantages and disadvantages of working in teams? By reference to relevant theory show how can the disadvantages be reduced or avoided.
A team is a group of people working together to achieve the same objectives. Katzenbach and Smith state in their report The Discipline of Teams (1993) that ‘the essence of a team is common commitment. Without it, groups perform as individuals; with it, they become a powerful unit of collective performance.’ Throughout this study, I will analyse the many different advantages and disadvantages of working in teams and its effects on team members and their performance and commitment within the team. I will consider many different aspects of team work and refer to certain established theories in attempt to find ways of reducing or avoiding some of the disadvantages that will be discussed. These ideas will be further developed throughout the study.
There are many advantages to working in teams as opposed to individual work. Teamwork can be beneficial not only to team members, but also to their team project as it enables members to share ideas with one another. It is suggested by Fincham and Rhodes (2005) that synergy occurs because discussion within groups generates more alternatives than individuals, tends to eliminate inferior contributions, averages out errors, and supports creative thinking. This indicates that team members can brainstorm ideas together and analyse what are the best decisions to make in order to improve the results of their task. Each member may have very different ideas to share with the rest of the team, this means that the team project will be scrutinised more closely and any parts of the work which may not have been clear can be improved. As team members strive to come to some sort of consensus about what action to take, there must be a thorough decision process taking place in order for everyone to share their views and opinions.
Another advantage that team work generates is the opportunity
A team is a group of people working together to achieve the same objectives. Katzenbach and Smith state in their report The Discipline of Teams (1993) that ‘the essence of a team is common commitment. Without it, groups perform as individuals; with it, they become a powerful unit of collective performance.’ Throughout this study, I will analyse the many different advantages and disadvantages of working in teams and its effects on team members and their performance and commitment within the team. I will consider many different aspects of team work and refer to certain established theories in attempt to find ways of reducing or avoiding some of the disadvantages that will be discussed. These ideas will be further developed throughout the study.
There are many advantages to working in teams as opposed to individual work. Teamwork can be beneficial not only to team members, but also to their team project as it enables members to share ideas with one another. It is suggested by Fincham and Rhodes (2005) that synergy occurs because discussion within groups generates more alternatives than individuals, tends to eliminate inferior contributions, averages out errors, and supports creative thinking. This indicates that team members can brainstorm ideas together and analyse what are the best decisions to make in order to improve the results of their task. Each member may have very different ideas to share with the rest of the team, this means that the team project will be scrutinised more closely and any parts of the work which may not have been clear can be improved. As team members strive to come to some sort of consensus about what action to take, there must be a thorough decision process taking place in order for everyone to share their views and opinions.
Another advantage that team work generates is the opportunity
References: Katzenbach, J. and Smith, D. (1993) The Discipline of Teams, USA: Harvard Business Review Fincham, R Levin, P. (2005) Successful Teamwork!, England: Open University Press Sheldon, K Belbin, R. M. (1981) Management Teams: Why they succeed or fail, London: Heinemann Asch, S Rogelberg, S. G., Barnes-Farrell, J. L. and Lowe, C. A. (1992) The Stepladder Technique: an alternative group structure facilitating effective group decision-making: Journal of Applied Psychology Janis, I Ingham, A. G., Levinger, G., Graves, J. and Peckham, V. (1974) The Ringelmann Effect: Studies of group size and performance: Journal of Experimental Psychology -----------------------