Teamwork

• Teamwork


  Essential for tasks to be optimally done
• Benefits of teamwork


  • Total time needed for the task is reduced
  • Possible to use experts in each field to get the best possible quality
• Good team


  Potential team members are trained to work together effectively
• What a good team entails

  • Learning about different team roles
  • Team members know and understand each other
  • Synergy within the team
  • Open-minded about giving and receiving constructive criticism
  • Team members respecting one another's opinion
  • Clear communication, instructions and constant feedback
  • Strong leader with a flexible leadership style
  • Understanding team processes
• Team Processes


  1. Forming

  2. Storming

  3. Norming

  4. Performing

  5. Adjourning
• Team Dynamics


  Interaction between team member's personalities, characteristics and the working relationships with each other
• Team Dynamics


  • Can be positive (team members are more productive) or negative (members fail to work together – poor team performance)
• Belbin Team Roles


  • Plant
  • Shaper
  • Coordinator
  • Specialist
  • Implementer
  • Team worker
  • Monitor Evaluator
  • Completer-finisher
  • Resource Investigator
• Reasons for conflict


  • Lack of a common aim, direction or clear goals
  • Lack of or poor communication
  • Different ideas on how things should be done
  • Not respecting rules or policies
  • Personality differences
  • People work at different speeds
  • Lack of skills or resources
  • Inadequate role allocation
  • Lack of commitment from team members
  • Prejudice, beliefs, values and diversity
  • Lack of strong leadership
  • Conflict distracting from the task
  • Personal egos conflicting with team goal
  • Emphasising personal goals over organisational goal
  • Inner conflict - emotional reactions
  • Unrealistic expectations from management
• Functional conflict


  • Development of new ideas and improved creativity
  • Increase in organisational vitality
  • Improved group performance and positive competition
  • Helps identify problems
  • Improved communication and better understanding
• Dysfunctional conflict


  • Diverts energy from the task at hand
  • Lowers staff morale, less job satisfaction and reduced productivity
  • Wastes resources like time and energy
  • Creates negative organisational culture
  • Reduced group cohesion and commitment
  • Increasing hostility and aggressive behaviour
• Conflict management skills


  • Educate employees around stress management
  • Avoid procrastination and crisis management
  • Communicate change
• Conflict Resolution Steps


  1. Negotiation

  2. Conciliation

  3. Mediation

  4. Arbitration