Page 262 - DMGT402_MANAGEMENT_PRACTICES_AND_ORGANIZATIONAL_BEHAVIOUR

Unit 12: Group Behaviour and Team Work

12.2.2 Types of Teams Notes

Based on their objectives, teams may be classified as problem-solving teams, self-managed
teams and cross-functional teams.
1. Problem-solving Teams: Problem-solving teams consist of groups of 5-10 employees from
the same department, who meet for a few hours each week to discuss ways of improving
quality, efficiency and the work environment. These members share ideas or offer
suggestions on how work processes and methods can be improved. Problem-solving
teams meet regularly to discuss their quality problems, investigate causes of problems,
recommend solutions and take corrective actions.
2. Self-managed Work Teams: A self-managed team includes collective control over the pace
of work, determination of work assignments, organisation of breaks, and collective choice
of inspection procedures. Fully self-managed work teams even select their own members
and have the members evaluate each other's performance. As a result, supervisory positions
take on decreased importance and may even be eliminated. These teams do their own
scheduling, rotate jobs on their own, establish production targets, set pay scales that are
linked to skills, fire co-workers and do the hiring. Self Managed work teams are compared
with conventional work groups in Table 12.3.

Table 12.3: Self-directed Work Teams Compared with Conventional Work Groups

Source: Jack D. Orshurn, Linda Moran, Ed. Musselwhite and John H Zenger, “Self-directed work teams: The
New American Challenge”, Burr Ridge, IL: Irwin (1990) page 11.
3. Cross-functional Teams: Cross-functional teams are made up of employees from about
the same hierarchical level, but from different work areas, who come together to accomplish
a task. Cross-functional teams are an effective way to allow people from diverse areas
within an organisation (or even between organisations) to exchange information, develop
new ideas, solve problems and coordinate complex projects. These teams are not easy to
manage. Their early stages of development are often very time consuming as members
learn to work with diversity and complexity. It takes time to build trust and teamwork,
especially among people from different backgrounds, with different experiences and
perspectives. 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.

Caselet Self-managed Teams at W.L. Gore and Associates

.L. Gore and associates manufactures Gore-Tex, the waterproof fabric found in
outdoor clothing and spacesuits, as well as other Teflon products for medical
Wand industrial uses. William L. “Bill” Gore, the founder of W.L. Gore and
Associates, created a company with a unique way of operating: Gore introduced the concepts
Contd...

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