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Unit 15: Team and Team Work

Notes

There are two types of cross-functional teams. They are:
(a) Task force – is nothing more than a temporary cross-functional team.

(b) Committees – composed of groups made up of members from across departmental
lines.

Task If you are given an opportunity to be a member of a work team, then out of
the given types which one would you want to belong to? Why?

Caselet Asha-Kiran Hospital

sha-Kiran Hospital was the only hospital in a small rural town of Manipal and
employed 150 persons, 75 of whom were nurses and Auxiliary Nurse Mid-Wife
A(ANMs). A Nursing Superintendent, who, in turn was assisted by five head nurses
in various specialities, managed the nursing department of the hospital. Each of the head
nurses supervised from 10 to 15 nurses and ANMs. The Head Nurses were responsible for
supervising their staff, shift scheduling, maintenance of supplies, training new employees
and completing necessary hospital reports. Head nurses were usually the most senior
nurse in their groups and had considerable experience in their areas of speciality.
One of the head nurses, Miss Silvia, got married and resigned. The Nursing Superintendent
was faced with the problem of selecting a replacement. Because of various specializations,
it was decided that the new head nurse should come from that group rather than be
transferred from another area. There were ten nurses in the group and their seniority
ranged from six months to seven years. Miss Veena, with seniority of five years, was well
known as the informal leader of the group. She had served as spokesperson for the group
on several occasions in the past, and the other nurses tended to follow her advice in most
matters. Everyone agreed she exerted considerable influence within the group.
15.3 Team Building

Team building is a catch-all term for a whole host of techniques aimed at improving the internal
functioning of work groups. Whether conducted by company trainers or outside consultants,

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