Teams: Processes and Communication
The effectiveness of organizations depends to a large extent on the activities and interactions that occur
within teams as they move toward their task-related objectives.
Team process: Refers to the different types of communication, activities and interactions that occur within
teams that contribute to their ultimate end goals.
Team characteristics [Member diversity, task interdependence, team size, …] Team process and
communication Team effectiveness
WHY ARE SOME TEAMS MORE THAN THE SUM OF THEIR PARTS?
Process gain: Getting more from the team than you would expect according to the capabilities of its
individual members. [=Synergy]
Process loss: Getting les rom the team than you would expect based on the capabilities of its individual
members.
What factors conspire to create process loss?:
1. Members in teams have to work to not only accomplish their own tasks, but also coordinate their
1 activities
Chapter with
12: Teams the activities
– Processes of their teammates .
and Communication
Coordination loss: Because (↑) consumes energy and time that otherwise could be devoted to
the task activity, although this extra effort focused on integrating work is a
necessary aspect of the team experience.
Production blocking: Occurs when members have to wait on one another before they can do
their part of the team task.
2. Motivational loss: The loss in team productivity that occurs when team members don’t work as
hard as they could.
Explanation: It’s quite difficult to gauge exactly how much each team member contributes to the
team. Over time it is difficult to keep accounting of who does what.
3. Members of teams don’t always work together at the same time as a unit.
Social Loafing: Member can feel themselves less accountable for team outcomes. Causing them
to exert less effort when working on team tasks than they would if they worked
alone on those same tasks.
, Taskwork processes:
Taskwork processes: Are the activities of team members that relate directly to the accomplishment of
team tasks.
Taskwork occurs any time that team members interact with the tools or technologies that are used to
complete their work.
Three types of taskwork processes are crucially important:
- Creative behavior
- Decision making
- Boundary spanning
A. Creative behavior
Activities are focused on generating novel and useful ideas and solutions.
Driven by the creativity of individual employees
Affected by characteristics such as conformity and attention to detail
Environment is also very important
Example: Brainstormen
B. Decision making
What factors account for a team’s ability to make accurate and effective decisions?
2 Chapter 12: Teams – Processes and Communication
1. Decision infirmity: Reflects whether members possess adequate information about their own task
responsibilities.
2. Staff Validity: Refers to the degree to which members make good recommendations to the leader
(A team can still possess all the information needed, but then fail because of lack of
ability or insight)
3. Hierarchical sensitivity: Reflects the degree to which the leader effectively weighs the
recommendations of the members
C. Boundary spanning
Involves three types of activities with individuals and groups other than those who are considered
part of the team
1. Ambassador activities: Refer to communications that are intended to protect the team, persuade
others to support the team or obtain important resources from the team.
2. Task coordinator activities: Involve communications that are intended to coordinate task-related
issues with people or groups in other functional areas.
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