Fin Baker
Benefits of Teams in a Business Setting
Teamwork in the professional workplace is essential to the success of any business. Not only does it
improve the efficiency of task completion, due to the increased number of minds and hands, but it
also boosts morale which will reflect on the performance of the enterprise being studied. In this
piece, I will be examining the benefits of teamwork generally in the workplace and then how that
corresponds in the everyday realties of Tesco PLC.
Purpose of a Given Team in a Business
There is a key difference between a group and team. A group is defined as a number of people that
are gathered or classed together, these may be assembled despite their preferences or aims.
Whereas, a team is defined as a group of people coming together as one to achieve a common goal.
Understanding this, we can identify that there are a series of essential benefits that partner
alongside a teamwork encouraged workplace providing a necessary purpose.
Tesco PLC. is a British supermarket and general merchandise retailer that operates successfully
internationally. It is perceived to be one of the most valuable brands in the United Kingdom, but also
the sixteenth most valuable retail brand worldwide as of 2021, according to Statista. Judging by their
huge global recognition, it is clear that they must have a formidable team that works within that has
helped the internal side of the company run smoothly and effectively. Organisation of these
employees and their numerous departments is essential to Tesco as this is what allows their
company to meet goals and deadlines to leave the customer content ensuring that all wants and
needs are met. Tesco obtains a formal business team which is one that is generated through the
hiring of, job description suitable employees, by the company to fulfil the desired objectives set out.
Within this they will have an informal group which are forged by the different employees interacting
and socialising with one another to discover they have similar like, interests and attitudes. These can
build tough relationships that improve the functionality in the everyday workplace. Evidence proving
this would be their shelf stackers. They have these groupings of people to make sure that all
products are set out in a way that is appealing to the eye, broadcasting exactly what the product is,
in an attempt to attract a potential customer. Not only this but it requires rearrangement, and
replenishment in the vent of empty shelves or out of date products. The team of people working on
this will have to communicate effectively and work efficiently together to make sure all the correct
checks are being done as well as the correct aisles. Overlooking them, would be a manager that
ensures that all the correct procedures are being complied with and making sure that standards are
met, once again this is an example of an informal team operating together. Despite this, there may
be informal relationships that begin to build over time as they work on the job. Employees will be
able to find common grounds in an effort to potentially increase job satisfactions, leading to
increased work ethic and as a result a higher reward to the customer through ways of customer
service and assistance. Resulting in an increased probability of purchase and therefore, a greater
profit for the company.
Team Sizes
As previously identified, we now know that businesses come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Evident
by the differing sizing of businesses, larger companies would require more vast teams to manage the
stresses of demands from their client base, whereas smaller to medium companies do not need as
great of a team. A good estimate for a large team is 300 or more people. Holding over 345,000
colleges, Tesco PLC. obtains many big teams that serve their own significant purpose, without these
1
, Fin Baker
the business would likely crumble under the immense pressures of customers, competitors and even
external impacts. Within these teams they will be segmented into smaller teams that complete
smaller tasks, by organising a team using this strategy, it ensures that all objectives are met to reach
the greater goal and focus of the company.
Types of Teams within Businesses
In almost all organisations, stakeholders of the business do not work alone. All employee’s work in
close coordination with one another, to perform to the optimal standard for a company will require
some kind of organisational plan for the workforce to seek the best solution in optimising teamwork
tailored to their business environment.
Teams can come in all shapes and sizes, for long periods of time or for short. Some of which as
follows:
Permanent Teams – This sort of team function on a permanent basis and do not dissolve once a task
is completed. Tesco acquire many permanent teams. An example of this would be their human
resources department. Passionate, they describe their focus on serving customers better each day,
so offering a team where colleagues and clientele can discuss any issues is important to the
company. All while instructing and directing employees towards organisational goals in a forward-
thinking, innovative manner. Work or no work, their teams like administration and HR function
collectively and efficiently together providing their title of a permanent team.
A benefit of this would be increased longevity and loyalty to the company. The employees would
have come to develop fondness of the work environment due to good relationships and an ability
enjoy their labouring experience will provide the opportunity to immerse themselves fully into the
company offering all their best efforts.
Temporary Teams – Contrasting permanent teams, temporary teams fade after a given task has
been accomplished. These sorts of teams are formed in a shorter duration sometimes to assist
permanent teams to complete. An example of this in Tesco, would be when different teams work
together to develop a new product.
Virtual/Remote Teams – These are teams that are made up of people who work in different physical
locations who rely heavily on collaboration tools to get things done together. It provides their
employees a better balance between work and their personal lives. This ensures that they remain
happy within work, this may increase their output or willingness to work. However, there may be
greater distractions and measures must be put in place by a business to make sure that their
employees are actually working instead of doing something else. Another benefit to these kinds of
teams are that it allows people that specials in their subjects within a company to work for a
business despite their location. Tesco have customer service teams, that ensure the customer has
any queries or reports answered and dealt with. They offer some people the opportunity to work
from their homes.
Horizontal or Vertical Teams – Within businesses they acquire different structures to maximise
results through different techniques. An example of this would be the horizontal organizational
structure. This specific structure is one that provides greater authority to the general employees
rather than the few managers deployed within the work place. It allows the employees to use their
own intuition and problem-solving abilities to get the job done. Additionally, it will make them feel
more involved and important enforcing the feeling of empowerment, this may lead to increased
effort and efficiency in the workplace. Comparably, vertical teams are ones where the leader of the
2
