...Introduction Research carried out on 48 virtual teams that had different effectiveness depicted that there were five characteristics and practices that distinguished between the highest and lowest performing virtual teams. These differentiators include; commitment and engagement, collaboration, information flow, shared decision making processes and trust. Below I will discuss four of the differentiators. Differentiator 1: Commitment and Engagement From the research, it shows that high performance virtual teams as being proactive, engaged and very initiative. They have a score of around 3.6 from a possible 4 points as compared to their counterparts that have a score of 3.06. These top performing teams always tend to go above and beyond so as to make sure they achieve their successes. Another reason for success would be the use of team leaders who help to motivate the others members and hence play a role in commitment and motivation. Most of the top performing teams had members that would take on leadership responsibilities and hence reduce the leader’s burden, but the low performing teams would not do so. It is crucial for virtual team members to help in sharing the official leader’s responsibilities this is because it means that they can work under less supervision and hence will be very effective in carrying out their other responsibilities than those members who cannot share the leader’s responsibilities. Teams that coordinate their day to day activities to...
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...Introduction This paper will cover several topics related to high-performing teams and work groups. It will discuss how these two kinds of workplace people sets and how they differ in their pursuit of organizational strategy and compare these differences to virtual teams. It will identify the characteristics of successful leaders of high-performing teams and finally discuss why high-performing teams are important to organizations. High-Performing Teams and Work Groups Before we can define high-performing teams or work groups, we will need to define the term team first. A team can be defined as a small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, set of performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable. "That definition lays down the discipline that teams must share to be effective (Katzenbach, 2005). Organizations utilize teams to perform operational and project based tasks. People working in teams have the capacity to solve complex problems that cannot be solved by individuals working alone. People working in teams bring more resources to a task, including a variety of perspectives, knowledge, skills, and experience (Capella University, 2008). This diversity of perspectives, knowledge, skills, and experience allows a team to outperform the sum of its parts and is a critical component of a team being labeled as a high-performing team. Teams come in many forms, they can be permanent or temporary, they...
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...Introduction: Individual Reflection on Team Experience Today in many industries and organizations group/team work is a tool for effective achievement of organizational goals. Understanding the way groups develop and how they impact organizational success is important to the effective use of groups in organizations. One of the most common models to describe how groups develop was described by Tuckman. Tuckman studied group development as it was seen in group therapy. This was then extrapolated to involve the development of all groups and teams that exist in areas such as those seen in organizations. In 1966, Tucker proposed that group development progressed through four identifiable stages which were named forming, storming, norming and performing. The Tuckman model for the stages of group development is one of the most cited models in the business world. Over the years there were other studies that also agreed that groups go through stages and they had identified that there appeared to be an “ending” stage as well. In 1977 Tuckman with Jensen reviewed who the stages of group development had evolved over the years since his first proposal of the stages of group development and in response to other studies they added a final stage of group development which the called adjourning (Tuckman & Jensen, 1977). The adjourning stage will not be reviewed in this paper since there was no real adjourning stage with this group. Another model for group development is the punctuated equilibrium...
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...Question 1 - Describe in detail the five stages of team/group development. Give specific examples for each stage. Explain how and why teams and groups may or may not proceed through these stages. The five-stage model, which can be applied to groups and teams, assumes that members will progress through five phases: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Teams and groups do not move through each phase in a sequential pattern, but the model as a whole proves beneficial to individuals who have struggles about working with others. Within this model, individuals shift from independent input to equal effort when working with others (Langton, Robbins and Judge 161). Group development begins with the forming stage. Beginning in the first meeting, this stage is the period where members experience anxiety and uncertainty about the team’s purpose, structure, and guidance (Langton, Robbins and Judge 161). Individual issues include members questioning where they fit in, and group issues include members questioning why the group was formed (Langton, Robbins and Judge 162). Active forming occurs when members doubt their acceptance or belonging within the group, have low trust in others, and make an attempt to understand what is expected of them (Stuermer). The forming stage is complete when members view themselves involved with the team or group (Langton, Robbins and Judge 161); this means members acknowledge the team’s needs over individual ones. The second stage is storming...
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...are part of a team and share a common direction get there quicker and easier because they are traveling on trust of one another and they support each other all the way. GOOSE - O is for ORGANISED If we have as much sense as a goose we will stay in formation and share information with those who are headed the same way we are going. The sense of a goose! The sense of a goose! GOOSE - O is for OPTIMUM The sense of a goose! The sense of a goose! It pays to share leadership and take turns during hard jobs GOOSE - S is for SUPPORT The sense of a goose! The sense of a goose! If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other when things get rough The sense of a goose! The sense of a goose! GOOSE - E is for ENCOURAGE Words of support and inspiration help energize those in the front line through the day to day pressures Message from a Goose It is a reward, a challenge, and a privilege to be a contributing member of a TEAM The sense of a goose! The sense of a goose! What is the difference between A Team Committed to shared goals Contributes to procedures Climate of cooperation Open and honest with each other Conflict is constructive and A Group Committed to individual goals Waits for procedures Climate of competition Careful and cautious with what they say Conflict easily escalates What is a Team? Unit of 2 or more people Interact or coordinate their work To accomplish a specific goal 10 A Team-Effectiveness...
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...Apollo 13 - Film Review Relation to Effective Teams Team Wind Working in Groups and Teams LOS 3150 RJ Graham May 8, 2009 When facing issues, conflicts, and the attainment of goals having the resources of a fully functional and focused team are irreplaceable. A team that has clear goals and strategies in place is more likely to succeed even when faced with the greatest types of adversity. In the movie, Apollo 13, the cast of characters is faced with achieving a goal under severe pressure and numerous problems, that if not successfully attained will cost people their lives. [1] The organization had a common goal that was securely set in the minds of each team member and each member was well aware of what failure could ultimately cost the entire organization. Even under this tremendous pressure filled climate, the team was able to use different types of decision making techniques in order to be effective in solving the issue facing them. While the movie was of course dramatized to reach audiences, it was based on a true story. This gives the emotions, personal interaction and problem solving techniques projected by the film a strong basis as to how teams should aspire to function in today’s environment. The background of the team ultimately began with the competition between the U.S. and Russia and their space exploration programs. The Apollo 13 mission was at this point a routine trip to the moon. U.S. astronauts had completed a mission to the moon one...
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...TEAM EFFECTIVENESS Besides the basic approach there is now a more applied focus on the impact that teams have on employee behavior, especially the contribution to satisfaction and performance, has also received attention. An overall summary of the way to use teams to enhance satisfaction and performance are as follows: 1. Organizing work around intact groups 2. Having groups charged with selection, training, and rewarding of members 3. Using groups to enforce strong norms for behavior, with group involvement in off the job as well as on the job behavior 4. Distributing resources on a group rather than an individual basis 5. Allowing and perhaps even promoting intergroup rivalry so as to build within-group solidarity Three factors seem to play the major role in determining group effectiveness: Task interdependence (how closely group members work together), outcome interdependence (whether and how group performance is rewarded) and potency as how members belief that the group can be effective. To assess team effectiveness first requires careful specification of criteria. Effective teams are characterized as being dependable, making reliable connections between the parts, and targeting the direction and goals of the organization. This is accomplished when members “buy in,” achieve coordination, have the desired impact, and exhibit the kind of vitality that sustains the organization over time as the environment shifts or changes. Factors that affect the success level of...
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...Elements of a High-Performance Organization Paper AJS/534 Week 4 December 7, 2015 Instructor: Robert Kehoe Elements of a High-Performance Organization Paper The purpose of this paper is to identify the elements of a high performance team and a learning organization. Team B has chosen an organization (law enforcement) represented by one of the team members. The paper will explain how information technology (IT) contributes to high performance teams and learning teams. It would also describe and address the strategic capability leverage of IT, and the organizational structure to create and maintain high performance teams and the law enforcement. Under the constant pressure of inevitably increasing demands of the external demands and stakeholders, organizations are continually looking for the elements that make up high-performance standards. High-performance organizations have contributing characteristics such as organizational design, hierarchy, leadership, people, information technology (IT), culture, motivation, and entrustment. Law enforcement organizations are amongst the organizations that need to embody all of these characteristics to be successful. Not only does law enforcement have a large number of internal demands to help cultivate a high-performance organization, but there are also several external demands as well. Surrounding communities and the citizens are also a constant influence on the organization's ability to achieve high performance. While...
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...The aim of this essay is to define teams and examine the reason why organisations rely on teams and what are the advantages and disadvantages in this process. Then, it will describe why are some teams effective and other fail. Finally, the essay will introduce a new form of team called “virtual teams”. Assignment 3 The aim of this essay is to define teams and examine the reason why organisations rely on teams and what are the advantages and disadvantages in this process. Then, it will describe why are some teams effective and other fail. Finally, the essay will introduce a new form of team called “virtual teams”. Human beings have always worked in collaboration with each other for creating friendship and social relationship with others, or for the benefits of their diverse perspectives, support and competences for a situation. As a consequence people create group, which include individuals together, even if they have any interdependence or organizationally focused purpose. In a company, managers form teams, which are groups of two or more people who collaborate with and influence, each other. People in a team are mutually accountable for achieving common goals associated with organizational objectives and perceive themselves as a social entity within an organisation. The aim of building teamwork is for meeting new challenges and achieving results that a person cannot realize alone. For example, New Zealand Post’s largest delivery branch in Marua Road, Auckland...
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...ascent a virtual Mount Everest. Drawing upon a range of fundamental organisational and managerial concepts and coupled with frequent challenges, the simulation effectively replicated a dynamic and teamwork based organisational environment. The simulation seeks to test interpersonal relationships and group dynamics by creating dissonance on both an individual and group level, as groups and group members strive to achieve both individual and group goals. This report will critically analyse the very processes used to undertake the Everest Simulation, along with results, focusing on the three concepts of ‘Communication’, ‘Groups and Teams’ and ‘Leadership’. These are of critical importance to forming an analysis of not only the simulation itself, but also a broader organisational and managerial situation and the correlation between managerial theory and practice and the Everest Simulation. The transition in dynamics within the group between the different simulations, and the solving of numerous challenges corresponds to the improvement in our results of the simulation. Moreover, this transition and triumph also elucidates the practicality of managerial theories associated with ‘communication’, ‘groups and teams’ and ‘leadership’ and their applicability to not only the Everest Simulation, my personal and group results, but also the wider contemporary managerial and organisational setting. Group Development and Performance In order for the simulation and team to successfully...
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...Avenues of High Performing Teams Tami Durling MGMT340-1501B-02 -5th IP Abstract High Performing Teams help organizations to succeed with their goals, short, and long term plans. Internal and external High Performing teams organize the company within a moral, virtue, innovative, positive, and kind atmosphere (Institutionalism). The culture of the business takes on a highly driven positive behavior of conflict and resolution. With these teams there is perseverance and healthy compromise to get the task at hand finished, and its everybody’s responsibility. The stress and responsibility of getting the job done is on the shoulders of the team as a whole not just one person. High Performing Teams organizational management has no chain of command, however the team is considered one unit. Avenues of High Performing Teams Difficulties managers are having establishing self-directed High Performing Teams.- Global information technologies pertaining to being proficient in computer hardware and software is a must in the twentieth century. Everyone is connected globally throughout every nation through the Internet. Businesses market and hire all over the world to trade, service, and sell to different cultures around the world. It is important to know how to video conference, email, research credible sites, and operate applications such as excel and Microsoft word. High Performance functioning teams need to be equipped with virtual teams and e-leadership...
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...Chapter Seven-Social Behaviour and Organizational Processes What is a Group? * Group- two or more people interacting interdependently to achieve a common goal * Interacting * suggest who is in and who isn’t in the group * need not to meet face to face or verbal communication ie. Telecommute * interdependence * group members rely on each other to accomplish goals all groups have 1 or more goals * Importance of group membership * Group tremendous influence on us * social mechanism by which we acquire many beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviours * provide a context in which we are able to exert influence on others * Formal work groups-group that organizations establish to facilitate the achievement of organizational goals * Intentionally designed to channel individual effort in an appropriate direction * Most common formal groups: a manager and employees who report to manager ie. Production manager, supervisor (who report to manager) * Hierarchy of most organizations is a series of formal interlocked work groups * Task forces-temporary groups that meet to achieve particular goals or to solve particular problems ie suggesting productivity improvements * Committees- permanent groups that handle recurrent assignments outside the usual work group structures * Informal groups- groups that emerge naturally in response to the common interests of organizational members ...
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...GLOBAL VIRTUAL TEAM WANTS TO REAP THE WIND” |MODULE M 5 CREATING HIGH PERFORMANCE PROJECT AND PROCESS TEAMS | |OB in Action Case Study 1. Executive Summary General Electric Co is setting out to apply considerable financial and technological innovation to the field of wind energy. James Lyons in charge of sourcing talent from around the world has the task of forming a team that is culturally diverse and innovative enough to design and research new techniques for developing alternative methods of harnessing wind energy. In question within this case study is the application of teamwork competencies to maximise efficiency and effectiveness in achieving specific outcomes for developing solutions. Different methods of effective group performance are discussed and elaborated upon as well as the interaction of the leader in establishing guiding principles in getting results. Contrasted within this report are the views and opinions of 3 different authors in defining group and teams within organizational behaviour, describing the various groups found in organizations, stages of group development, characteristics of effective work groups and teams. Factors that may be attributed to possible failure and the various contingency factors that have a direct relationship to a leader’s behaviour in particular to achieving specific outcomes are also discussed. OB in Action Case Study GE’s Global Virtual Team Wants...
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...1. Why do all organizations need to rely on groups and teams to achieve their goals and gaina competitive advantage? A group = two or more people who work together to achieve certain goals or meet certain needs.A team = a group of people work together to achieve a specific common goal or objective.Because of the sheer dynamics of either a group or a team and how they function within anorganization, these units can help an organization gain an advantage over their competitors, serve asperformance enhancers, provide increased customer service, encourage more innovated work by theemployees, and serve as motivators for all members of the groups and teams. Each of these itemscan result in an increased advantage over the competitor 6. Why do some groups have very low levels of cohesiveness? Group size is one factor, with members of small groups more motivated and committed than members of large groups. A group with low cohesiveness might just be too large. Second, in forming groups, managers need to select members who have a diversity in knowledge, skills, and experience. Managers need to make sure that diversity is effectively managed, because if it is not, it may lead to 5. Discuss the reasons why too much conformity can hurt groups and their organizations.Too much conformity can result in conforming to norms even when they are dysfunctional which will ultimately hurt the organization and their end goals. Too much conformity also throws offthe balance of conformity...
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...Group Behaviors and Team Dynamics (Group 2) Group of 2+ people who interact and influence one another , mutually accountable for achieving common goals associated with organizational objectives, and perceive themselves as a social entity within organization. Typically , a team was formed because of a goal to be met. Can also team formed because of the need to collaborate with each other to achieve a common goal . These types of teams are divided into three divisions , namely : Duration teams, differences in abilities , and differences authority. Making the team is usually seen from how long the team will be there . Division teams usually according to the ability of each individual , usually refers to the ability and knowledge to the team . Differences authority is the third case in the formation of a team , referring to the difference in decision-making in a team . Informal groups A group consists of people who shared in an interdependent or an organization that is focused on a goal. Friends that you've encountered while lunch is usually called informal groups (groups not officially), but they can not be called a team because they do not depend on each other and do not have a specific purpose. This Informal group arises because man is a social creature. This is proven because everyone will use their time and effort to create a group and preserve their social life on this informal group. 2nd reason why people participate in the group's...
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