Teamwork in the Workplace Essay Sample

What are the advantages and disadvantages of working in squads? By mention to relevant theory demo how can the disadvantages be reduced or avoided.

A squad is a group of people working together to accomplish the same aims. Katzenbach and Smith province in their study The Discipline of Teams ( 1993 ) that ‘the kernel of a squad is common committedness. Without it. groups perform as persons ; with it. they become a powerful unit of corporate public presentation. ’ Throughout this survey. I will analyze the many different advantages and disadvantages of working in squads and its effects on squad members and their public presentation and committedness within the squad. I will see many different facets of squad work and mention to certain constituted theories in effort to happen ways of cut downing or avoiding some of the disadvantages that will be discussed. These thoughts will be further developed throughout the survey.

There are many advantages to working in squads as opposed to single work. Teamwork can be good non merely to team members. but besides to their squad undertaking as it enables members to portion thoughts with one another. It is suggested by Fincham and Rhodes ( 2005 ) that synergy occurs because treatment within groups generates more options than persons. tends to extinguish inferior parts. norms out mistakes. and supports originative thought. This indicates that squad members can brainstorm thoughts together and analyze what are the best determinations to do in order to better the consequences of their undertaking. Each member may hold really different thoughts to portion with the remainder of the squad. this means that the squad undertaking will be scrutinised more closely and any parts of the work which may non hold been clear can be improved. As squad members strive to come to some kind of consensus about what action to take. there must be a thorough determination procedure taking topographic point in order for everyone to portion their positions and sentiments.

Another advantage that squad work generates is the chance to construct relationships with squad members. Teamwork fulfils the affiliative demands of persons as discovered by Sheldon and Bettencourt ( 2002 ) . These affiliative demands are the demand to be included and the demand for relatedness as described by Fincham and Rhodes ( 2005 ) . In set uping relationships with squad members. persons may get down to experience more comfy in sharing thoughts with the group. It creates a sense of integrity amongst squad members as they all aim to accomplish the same consequence. This can be more interesting for persons as the societal facet of squad working can do the undertaking seem like less work. Peter Levin suggests in his book Successful Teamwork! ( 2005 ) that. you can acquire the same sort of bonding. excitement and common support and grasp in an academic squad as in a athleticss squad. This therefore indicates that by holding positive ‘’collaborative’’ relationships within the squad. squad members can assist each other with the work and can besides do the experience more gratifying. When members enjoy the work. they are more motivated to be involved in the squad work which will finally. hopefully better the concluding consequence of the squad undertaking.

Team work besides develops the accomplishments of its members. It allows squad members to spread out their ability to debate thoughts. work with others and depute certain undertakings. Through squad work. members can heighten their communicating accomplishments. which would non be possible through single work. It is critical to hold interaction with one another in teamwork. without this. the squad will non be effectual. Another benefit that you’ll get from working in a squad is that it will give you a wider grasp of ‘learning’ . You’ll see that the ability to work creatively and efficaciously in a squad is a ‘skill for learning’ every bit good as a ‘skill for employability. ’ Levin ( 2005 ) He suggests here that by bettering these critical accomplishments through teamwork. one may go more employable. merely because employers value such accomplishments and frequently require employees to work in squads. This can do the enlisting procedure more efficient as employers will non necessitate to pass as much clip and money on developing employees to better these critical accomplishments.

Of class with the many advantages of teamwork. one can happen several disadvantages of working in squads. A disadvantage of teamwork may be the fact that it is really clip consuming and may take members a long clip to do determinations. as all point of views of squad members need to be considered. It may take a piece for squad members to come to an understanding of what should be done or where to run into and when. To some members. meetings become a job as suggested by Katzenbach and Smith ( 1993 ) . During the determination procedure. there is a menace that non all members are to the full take parting in the group work or may hold with the remainder of the squad. Fincham and Rhodes ( 2005 ) imply that sometimes an individual’s personal ends struggle with the group’s ends ; and if he or she is non prepared to modify his or her personal ends. dissatisfaction with the group becomes about inevitable.

The person is so identified as a pervert. This ‘deviate’ member may do jobs in the kineticss of the group. such as struggle between group members or deficiency of engagement from others. If there is struggle in the squad or if there are non good dealingss between squad members. persons may be loath to portion thoughts as they may be intimidated or may fear being judged by others in the group. This is known as Groupthink discovered by Janis ( 1972 ) . For these squad members. squad work may non be gratifying and hence. they may experience demotivated to make the work and at times may experience estranged from the group.

Theorists such as Belbin ( 1981. 1993 ) have discovered that in squads. one can happen many different personality types and hence different functions of squad members. In this instance it is possible that a member of the squad may demo more leader like qualities. this could go disadvantageous to the squad as the leader may try to rule the group work and non see the demands or positions of other squad members. This once more could make struggle and unease amongst group members and will finally impact the coaction of the group undertaking.

Levin ( 2005 ) suggests that the thought of a squad is to portion the same aims. This may non ever be the instance if squad members have ne’er met before and are non to the full clear of the undertaking set. This can take to confusion between members and may intend that some squad members are unwilling to be told by their equals what to make. This is an illustration on uneffective squad work.

A farther disadvantage of teamwork may be that the squad has existed excessively long and inspiration of new thoughts has expired. This thought is discussed in Fincham and Rhodes ( 2005 ) . There is a hazard of squad members going excessively friendly with each other and that friendly relationships and professional relationships may be hard to separate. If this occurs. squad work is affected as it may be easy for squad members to go distracted by personal issues instead than concentrating on the undertaking set. In this manner squad work may go less effectual. It is of import that squad members remain professional when working in squads.

There is a hazard of group conformance during teamwork as discovered by Solomon Asch ( 1951 ) . He found that when giving people a pick many will take what other squad members have decided. even if they know that it is non the right pick. Reasons for group conformance may be that squad members do non desire to belie other’s point of views. or merely make non desire to be seen as doing the incorrect pick. This is non good to the squad work as thoughts and determinations are non genuinely examined and may intend that the incorrect picks are made.

In order to cut down or even avoid these disadvantages I will now go on by mentioning to relevant theories to happen suggestions of covering with these disadvantages of squad work.

First. a manner to avoid squad members blowing clip and disheartenment during squad work is to set up ‘group norms’ . These represent the outlooks within the group for appropriate behavior of group members ( Fincham & A ; Rhodes 2005 ) . This means that if the group collaboratively decide to follow a positive and thorough work ethic. each member will hopefully hold this attitude to the group undertaking. It besides shows that members are working together to accomplish the team’s ends.

Team members could concentrate of the reflexiveness of the group to get the better of struggle. Fincham and Rhodes ( 2005 ) describe reflexiveness as the ability of the squad to reflect critically on the manner it tackles undertakings or members relate to one another. Basically. if the squad discover that there is excessively much societal coherence. they may make up one’s mind to reshuffle allocated occupations to certain members in order to maintain the squad focussed on the occupation. It can besides do the work more interesting.

In order to hold the most effectual and compatible squad. employers may see analyzing squad members harmonizing to Belbin’s squad theoretical account ( 1982. 1993 ) as antecedently mentioned. It was his thought to choose members for accomplishment and potency. non personality. ( Katzenbach & A ; Smith 1993 ) Employers can so build a squad guaranting there are members who personify each of the suggested functions such as ; a Coordinator. a Plant. an Implementer. a Monitor Evaluator. Shaper etc. This could intend that squad members are able to work good together and heighten the undertaking through all the different accomplishments and expertness of each member and function. It besides reduces the menace of struggle between members who may portray similar functions such as leading features ; where there could be a battle of power. On the other manus. there may be a little hazard of members experiencing that they need to carry through the outlooks of their functions. This may do them experience under force per unit area and may deflect them from to the full take parting in the squad work.

Another manner to get the better of struggle may be to transport out ‘Step Laddering’ ( S. G. Rogelberg. J. L. Bames-Farrell. & A ; C. A. Lowe. 1992 ) . a technique which enables squad members to discourse any issues they may hold with the squad and any solutions they have to jobs which have been raised. For illustration one could propose deputing certain undertakings to team members in order to take advantage of each other’s expertness. This technique encourages communicating between the squad members and helps them highlight their jobs and happen solutions together. A consequence of Step Laddering is improved dealingss between squad members and developed analytical accomplishments every bit good as motive to work hard on the undertaking.

The Ringelmann consequence ( Ingham et al. 1927 ) suggests that group public presentation is dependent on the size of a squad. He found that the more people in a squad. the less effectual the squad was. This is because squad members relied on others to take control of the undertaking. alternatively of take parting to the full themselves. In order to hold optimal engagement. employers could roll up effectual squads by utilizing fewer members. If a squad of 4 members were created. each of them could take great duty in the undertaking and transport out the work exhaustively. This would be more effectual than a squad of 8 members finishing the same undertaking. as each of the 8 members would hold less duty and engagement in the squad work.

In decision. we can see that there are many advantages and disadvantages to working in squads. Team work brings many societal properties which one would non happen in single work. These societal connexions can be actuating and do the squad work gratifying. But. on the other manus. it may set force per unit area on squad members to collaborate and seek to work together. At times this may make struggle and a deficiency of motive. Team work is besides a good manner for members to portion thoughts and make a more elaborate piece of work as members come up with suggestions that others may non hold considered.

It is an chance for squad members to develop their communicating and acquisition accomplishments. This is really attractive to employers as it shows persons are capable of working together to accomplish the same aims. It may non be favorable that squad work may be more clip consuming. but through work of positive ‘group norms’ and motive of squad members. this job may be reduced. All in all. teamwork is basically good. as many things could ne’er be achieved without the work of squads. For illustration edifices could ne’er be constructed by merely one individual and a pilot could non safely wing a plane without squad work with an air traffic accountant. It is in our human nature and at times our desire to work with others. so therefore we should be willing to get the better of the disadvantages discussed by sing the suggested theories.

Mentions:

Katzenbach. J. and Smith. D. ( 1993 ) The Discipline of Teams. USA: Harvard Business Review

Fincham. R. and Rhodes. P. ( 2005 ) Principles of Organizational Behaviour. 4th Ed. United States: Oxford University Press Inc

Levin. P. ( 2005 ) Successful Teamwork! . England: Open University Press

Sheldon. K. M. and Bettencourt. B. A. ( 2002 ) Psychological need-satisfaction and subjective wellbeing within societal groups. London: British Journal of Social Psychology

Belbin. R. M. ( 1981 ) Management Teams: Why they win or neglect. London: Heinemann

Asch. S. E. ( 1951 ) Effectss of group force per unit area upon the alteration and deformation of judgement. Pittsburgh. USA: Carnegie Press

Rogelberg. S. G. . Barnes-Farrell. J. L. and Lowe. C. A. ( 1992 ) The Stepladder Technique: an alternate group construction easing effectual group decision-making: Journal of Applied Psychology

Janis. I. L. ( 1972 ) Victims of Groupthink. Boston: Houghton Mifflin

Ingham. A. G. . Levinger. G. . Graves. J. and Peckham. V. ( 1974 ) The Ringelmann Effect: Surveies of group size and public presentation: Journal of Experimental Psychology