The Secrets of Great Teamwork - Haas et al

19 important questions on The Secrets of Great Teamwork - Haas et al

What are the two corrosive problems that occur in modern teams?

  • Us vs. Them thinking
  • Incomplete Information

How can a team overcome the two pitfalls occuring in modern teams (us vs them and incomplete info)?

By establishing a shared mindset

What is a 4D team?

A diverse, dispersed, digital, and dynamic team
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What is meant by having a compelling direction?

Challenging and explicit goals, that provide direction that energizes, orients, and engages its members. Goals must be consequential, either through extrinsic rewards, (recognition, pay, promotions) or intrinsic rewards (satisfaction and a sense of meaning)

Why is a compelling direction especially crucial on 4D teams?

Because it is easy for far-flung members from dissimilar backgrounds to hold different views of the group's purpose

What is meant with the enabling condition of a strong structure?

The need for the right mix and number of members, optimally designed tasks and processes, and norms that discourage destructive behaviour and promote positive dynamics.

What are some disadvantages of large teams?

They are more vulnerable to poor communication, fragmentation, and free riding (due to lack of accountability)

How can a manager or leader make any task more motivating?

By ensuring that the team is responsible for a significant piece of work from beginning to end, that they have autonomy in managing that work, and that the team receives performance feedback on it

What is meant with destructive dynamics that can undermine collaborative efforts?

For example, team members witholding information, pressuring people to conform, avoiding responsibility, casting blame, and so on.

How can teams reduce the potential for dysfunctioning?

By establishing clear norms, especially important with members operating across different national, regional, or organisational cultures.

What is meant with a supportive context?

Maintaining a reward system that reinforces good performance, an information system that provides access to the data needed for the work, and an educational system that offers training, plus securing material resources required to do the job (funding and technological assistance)

Why may it be extra difficult to provide a supportive context for geographically dispersed teams?

Because resources available may vary a lot.

What is meant with a shared mindset?

Fostering a common identity and common understanding

What problems often arrise with 4D teams?

They are prone to 'us versus them' thinking and imcomplete information

What does developing a shared mindset solve?

The problem of 'us versus them' thinking and incomplete information

What are some advantages of shared knowledge?

It gives a group frame of reference, allows them to interpret situations and decisions correctly, greatly increase efficiency

How can team leders foster a shared identity?

Ensuring that each subgroup feels valued for its contributions toward the team's overall goals

What is a practical way teams can promote shared understanding?

"structured unstructured time", time blocked off in the schedule to talk about matters not directly related to the task at hand

What are the criteria for evaluating team effectiveness?

Output, collaborative ability, and members' indidivual development

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