Team Cohesiveness
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Humans are able to accomplish great projects by forming heterogeneous and complementary teams in terms of skills, knowledge and behavioural competencies. Studies show cohesiveness is an important characteristic of high-performing teams and underline the existing positive correlation between cohesion and performance, especially when it comes to project management teams. <ref name="first">François Chiocchio, Hélène Essiembre (2009). ‘’Cohesion and Performance A Meta-Analytic Review of Disparities Between Project Teams, Production Teams, and Service Teams.’’ Small Group Research Volume 40 Number 4 https://journals.sagepub.com/home/sgr </ref> | Humans are able to accomplish great projects by forming heterogeneous and complementary teams in terms of skills, knowledge and behavioural competencies. Studies show cohesiveness is an important characteristic of high-performing teams and underline the existing positive correlation between cohesion and performance, especially when it comes to project management teams. <ref name="first">François Chiocchio, Hélène Essiembre (2009). ‘’Cohesion and Performance A Meta-Analytic Review of Disparities Between Project Teams, Production Teams, and Service Teams.’’ Small Group Research Volume 40 Number 4 https://journals.sagepub.com/home/sgr </ref> | ||
| − | Cohesiveness is the strength and extent of bonds between members of a same team. It determines the motivation of team-mates to remain in the team and achieve the common goal. Due to its worthiness, it is of great relevance for leaders and project managers to understand how to create and promote cohesion in their teams. Cohesiveness is multidimensional, therefore needs time to be developed and it is more likely to occur in small size teams. Further on, a more comprehensive definition of cohesiveness is given, as well as actions to take in order to promote cohesion in a team. | + | Cohesiveness is the strength and extent of bonds between members of a same team. It determines the motivation of team-mates to remain in the team and achieve the common goal. Due to its worthiness, it is of great relevance for leaders and project managers to understand how to create and promote cohesion in their teams. Cohesiveness is multidimensional, therefore needs time to be developed and it is more likely to occur in small size teams.<ref name="first"> Further on, a more comprehensive definition of cohesiveness is given, as well as actions to take in order to promote cohesion in a team. |
Although team cohesiveness is a crucial aspect in teams that reach high performances, it would be a mistake for team leaders to focus only on this single aspect. A number of other factors equally important contribute to the performance of a team, two of the aspects are briefly mentioned in the end. | Although team cohesiveness is a crucial aspect in teams that reach high performances, it would be a mistake for team leaders to focus only on this single aspect. A number of other factors equally important contribute to the performance of a team, two of the aspects are briefly mentioned in the end. | ||
== Meaning and Importance of Cohesion == | == Meaning and Importance of Cohesion == | ||
| − | Nowadays project teams are largely employed in many different industries, in change management projects within organisations and in education as well. The major advantages of teams are the diversity in knowledge and ideas and, if the team is in good sync, the ability to be more effective and efficient than a single person. Psychological aspects have been identified as key elements of project success and efficacy, in particular, it exists a positive correlation between team cohesion and team performance. Cohesion fosters motivation among team-mates and allows coordination, increases creativity and allows a more freely exchange of knowledge and expertise. | + | Nowadays project teams are largely employed in many different industries, in change management projects within organisations and in education as well. The major advantages of teams are the diversity in knowledge and ideas and, if the team is in good sync, the ability to be more effective and efficient than a single person. Psychological aspects have been identified as key elements of project success and efficacy, in particular, it exists a positive correlation between team cohesion and team performance. <ref name="first"> Cohesion fosters motivation among team-mates and allows coordination, increases creativity and allows a more freely exchange of knowledge and expertise. |
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, cohesion is “the act or state of sticking together tightly”. | According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, cohesion is “the act or state of sticking together tightly”. | ||
| − | At first, team cohesion researchers presented cohesion as a unidimensional characteristic of high-performing teams referring to it as “a field of forces making group members stay together”. The unidimensional description was too vague to convert it in a measurable characteristic, therefore a new multidimensional description was adopted. The most common one is tridimensional and includes: | + | At first, team cohesion researchers presented cohesion as a unidimensional characteristic of high-performing teams referring to it as “a field of forces making group members stay together”. <ref name="first"> The unidimensional description was too vague to convert it in a measurable characteristic, therefore a new multidimensional description was adopted. The most common one is tridimensional and includes: |
• “'''Social cohesion'''” that refers to interpersonal attraction between team-mates, interest in other’s company, time spent together and friendship or closeness; | • “'''Social cohesion'''” that refers to interpersonal attraction between team-mates, interest in other’s company, time spent together and friendship or closeness; | ||
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• “'''Task cohesion'''” that reflects the shared commitment of a team to a certain task or goal and the motivation to coordinate team efforts to achieve goals; | • “'''Task cohesion'''” that reflects the shared commitment of a team to a certain task or goal and the motivation to coordinate team efforts to achieve goals; | ||
| − | • “'''Group pride'''”, a dimension studied mostly in sport teams. | + | • “'''Group pride'''”, a dimension studied mostly in sport teams.<ref name="first"> |
Since it takes time to create meaningful bonds, one of the most relevant factors that influences cohesion is the time spent together. | Since it takes time to create meaningful bonds, one of the most relevant factors that influences cohesion is the time spent together. | ||
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===== ''Time and size of a team'' ===== | ===== ''Time and size of a team'' ===== | ||
| − | It takes time to get to know and appreciate each other’s skills in a team, as well as to form meaningful bonds and to build trust and cohesiveness. Unfortunately, this is an aspect in contrast with the nature of projects that are limited in time. Moreover, the bigger the team is, the more time will take. | + | It takes time to get to know and appreciate each other’s skills in a team, as well as to form meaningful bonds and to build trust and cohesiveness. Unfortunately, this is an aspect in contrast with the nature of projects that are limited in time. Moreover, the bigger the team is, the more time will take. <ref name="first"> |
Small groups tend to be more cohesive since members have a greater degree of face-to-face communication, it is easier for them to find common ground and agree on different decisions and is more unlikely that undermining-cohesion-cliques will form over time. [7] | Small groups tend to be more cohesive since members have a greater degree of face-to-face communication, it is easier for them to find common ground and agree on different decisions and is more unlikely that undermining-cohesion-cliques will form over time. [7] | ||
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=== Cohesiveness research limitations === | === Cohesiveness research limitations === | ||
| − | In seventy years, much research has been conducted regarding the relationship between cohesiveness and performance, but experts, psychologists and theorists are still debating about it. Much of the debate is around inconsistencies in definitions and classifications in types of teams across papers. | + | In seventy years, much research has been conducted regarding the relationship between cohesiveness and performance, but experts, psychologists and theorists are still debating about it. Much of the debate is around inconsistencies in definitions and classifications in types of teams across papers. <ref name="first"> The other consistent body of debate goes around differences in results: some researchers found out that cohesiveness might not be positively correlated with high performance or that cohesiveness is critical, but not always predicts effectiveness and high performance. Other researchers found out that the relationship is stronger in correlational studies rather than in experimental studies and in real groups rather then artificial. [9] The research on cohesion still leaves room for improvement. |
=== Other aspects concurring in the creation of high-performance teams === | === Other aspects concurring in the creation of high-performance teams === | ||
Revision as of 21:54, 27 March 2022
Humans are able to accomplish great projects by forming heterogeneous and complementary teams in terms of skills, knowledge and behavioural competencies. Studies show cohesiveness is an important characteristic of high-performing teams and underline the existing positive correlation between cohesion and performance, especially when it comes to project management teams. [1]
Cohesiveness is the strength and extent of bonds between members of a same team. It determines the motivation of team-mates to remain in the team and achieve the common goal. Due to its worthiness, it is of great relevance for leaders and project managers to understand how to create and promote cohesion in their teams. Cohesiveness is multidimensional, therefore needs time to be developed and it is more likely to occur in small size teams.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag
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