10.1 Focus on Teamwork
Learning Objectives
Reading this chapter will help you do the following:
- Discuss the benefits of working in teams.
- Outline how teams develop over time.
- List the key considerations in managing teams.
- Discuss the benefits of conflict for a team.
- Describe the impact of team diversity on decision-making and problem-solving.
- Discuss social networks and their value.
- Analyze the key dimensions of social networks.
- Analyze how social networks create value.
- Determine the actions required to take to develop a network.
- Identify the gaps in your network and develop a plan to fill those gaps.
You have probably been part of many teams throughout your life. Think back to the group of students in your classes growing up, teams you played on or bands that you played in, religious and community groups, etc. You are currently in a group that is a cohort of students, may be part of a team at work, or live with a group of roommates. Going forward you will see that most work is done in teams, and today’s organizations require employees that are both good team leaders and good team players. Collaboration and teamwork are crucial in our globally connected high-tech workplaces. As tasks have become more complex, groups and teams have become essential to solving the wicked problems of our time while negotiating a constant barrage of change. Teams are part of a social network. Social networks are the pathways through which communication and resources flow, and the channels through which work actually gets done. Networks provide unique advantages both personally and professionally.
Key Takeaways
Much of the work that is performed today in organizations requires a focus on teamwork. The ability to work successfully as a team member, as well as the ability to lead teams, is an ultimate advantage within the workforce. Teams themselves must be managed, in addition to managing just the individuals, to be successful. We’ve all heard the quote originally coined by Aristotle that states that “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.” This captures the nature of the team perfectly—there is such a synergy that comes from a team that the individuals alone are not able to create. This chapter details the importance of and benefits that you may derive from working as a team, as well as some of the ways we can make our teams more successful.
“Introduction” in Principles of Management by OpenStax is licensed under under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
