Successful Teamwork
Abstract
focusses on team work and less on the leadership of a team!
Importance of Teamwork
Teamwork plays an important role in many aspects of our lives. Research shows that teamwork can improve the performance and the outcomes in a lot of diferent areas, for instance, the workplace, education, and in sports. In the workplace, effective teamwork can improve organizational performance, increase job satisfaction, and reduce employee turnovers. Additionally, teamwork is very important to achieving learning goals and developing the skills that are needed to succeed in the job. Cooperative learning activities in school can increase student engagement, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Likewise, teamwork in sports can improve the team performance drastically and even improve individual performance such as communication or the interpersonal performances like better cohesion among the team members.
Teamwork is especially important to organizational success because it increases productivity, quality and innovation, it encourages creativity and it improves problem-solving skills. It refers to individuals working together toward a common goal, putting their resources, skills, knowledges, and experiences together, resulting in greater efficiency and better decision-making.
When it comes to innovative projects, the quality of teamwork is an important indicatior for the success of thr projects. That makes teamwork a vital factor in organizations. Project management success depends on the effectiveness and efficiency of the project team, so teamwork plays a major role in project, portfolio, and program management.
With time teams have become more complex and dynamic, and success requires new and innovative ways to lead, communicate and collaborate: In today's rapidly changing work environment, traditional team research and practice may no longer be sufficient, so teamwork is essential for organizations to adapt and evolve and remain competitive in today's workplace. Therefore, it is very important to create a positive team environment that increases the team performance. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]
Definition of a "Team"
In order to understand the importance of teamwork it is first necessary to clarify the definition of a team, because not all groups are necessarily a team.
A team is a group of multiple individuals who come together to achieve a common and shared goal. The team members may have complementary and interdependent skills and maybe even hierarchical positions. The team is structured in a task-oriented manner, meaning clear tasks are assigned and it has a clear focus on achieving the shared goals. They work collaboratively and communicate both within and outside the team to accomplish their objectives and goals. Teamwork requires a certain level of team identity, which is different from individual identities, meaning that the members stand for what they are doing. This can be seen as an emotional bond to the team and among the team members and it is often considered as a crucial aspect of a team that distinguishes it from a group. This emotional bond is characterized by strong relationships, a sense of community, and a high level of group cohesion.
Successful team collaboration also involves the distribution of work based on different areas of expertise, a specific role allocation, and an increasing sense of belonging among team members. The motivation to work as a team and the opportunity to combine different ideas and experiences can lead to a higher quality of overall team performance, which can surpass the cumulative individual performances.
The definition of a team and the indicators for successful teamwork often overlap, so a precise definition is difficult to make. Some of these characteristics of a team are also indicators for the success of the team. [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]
Elements of successful teamwork
When it comes to teamwork it is very important to understand the factors that influence the success of the teamwork. Especially in project management, it is crucial for the manager to understand how to make the team's performance as efficient as possible. Indicators for successful teamwork can be divided into three categories: Individual attributes, Interpersonal attributes, and Team attributes. Individual attributes are characteristics that each team member should have. For a project manager, these could be criteria for choosing people in their group. The interpersonal attributes explain how team members interact with each other, which is of course a crucial part of the performance of a team. If individuals can't work well together the team performance suffers. The team attributes describe the characteristics of the team as a whole and not the individuals and these attributes are very specific for each case.
Individual attributes
Individual willingness
The willingness of individual team members to collaborate, contribute their best efforts, learn and adapt is a critical factor in for the succes of a team. Even with all the necessary skills, knowledge, resources and experiences, a lack of willingness can prevent a team from being efficient. This willingness is vital for creating an environment of trust among each other, openness, and cooperation that encoiurages teamwork. When team members are willing to communicate openly, share knowledge and experience, take on additional responsibilities, and be proactive, they can inspire others to do the same. That leads to a higher level of engagement and especially commitment, and in the end it leads to higher performance. In contrast, a lack of willingness can hinder a team to achieve its goals and undermine its success.[1] [16] [6] [8] [9]
Individual competencies
Individual competencies are essential for a team's success. They can be divided into technical, soft, and leadership competencies. Technical competencies are the skills, experience, and knowledge of each member in their own specification or field. These are necessary to achieve the team's objectives. Soft competencies such as communication or problem-solving are important for successful collaboration. Each team member brings unique competencies that can contribute to the team's overall performance. Strong soft competencies help avoid conflicts, communicate better, and work collaboratively towards a shared goal. Finally the leadership competencies can guide the team towards its objectives, manage conflicts, and create a positive work environment that encourges innovation and creativity.[2] [16] [4] [5] [6] [8] [9] [10] [12]
Positive attitude and mindset
Having a positive attitude and a positive mindset is another factor for a team's success. It can foster trust, communication, collaboration, and creativity among the team members which leads to a more positive work environment. Positive attitudes increase motivation on the one hand and reduce stress on the other hand. Maintaining a positive mindset also means that individuals learn from mistakes, accept a certain vulnerability, and that they are open to constructive criticism. Finally a positive work environment, attitude and mindset can increase productivity, promote innovation, and ultimately help the team achieve its comon goals.[3] [5] [6] [8]
- Individual willingness: to learn and adapt and deliver. commitment [1] [16] [6] [8] [9]
- Individual competencies: skills, knowledge, experience [2] [16] [4] [5] [6] [8] [9] [10] [12]
- Positive attitude and mindset [3] [5] [6] [8]
- Openness to feedback [3]
- Accountability [8] [12] [5] [11]
Interpersonal attributes
- Relationships [3] [5] [8] [10] [12]
- Communication [1] [16] [3] [4] [5] [7] [9] [10] [11] [12]
- Trust [1] [16] [3] [4] [5] [6] [8] [9] [13] [10]
- Respect [1] [16] [3] [4] [8] [10]
- Collaboration and cooperation [1] [3] [4] [5] [5] [9] [10] [12]
- cohesion [3] [4] [5] [6] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]
Team attributes
- Team composition: Diversity [4] [9] [11] [12]
- Common values and culture [4]
- Identification and emotional bond: feelings of attachment, loyalty, and commitment [5] [3] [12] [8] [11]
- clear roles and work distribution: in areas of expertise [1] [2] [16] [3] [4] [5] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]
- common goal: clearly defined [3] [5] [13]
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The IPO-Model
In der Literatur findet man zahlreiche Input-Prozess-Output-Modelle (Siehe Abbildung 3), die beschreiben, welche Faktoren wie einen Einfluss auf die Leistung eines Teams haben. Sie unterteilen die Teamarbeit in drei Kategorien: Der Input besteht aus Variablen, die die Voraussetzungen für die Teamarbeit sind. Sie begünstigen im besten Fall eine erfolgreiche Teamarbeit, aber können sich auch negativ auf die Teamarbeit auswirken. Auf jeden Fall sind sie ein begrenzender Faktor für den (Team-)Prozess. Der (Team-)Prozess beschreibt den Vorgang, welcher die Input-Variablen zu einem Ergebnis transformiert. Dabei handelt es sich also wie der Name schon sagt, um den Prozess, der im Team stattfindet und zu einem Ergebnis führt. Das Ergebnis der Teamarbeit bildet der Output. Dabei wird sowohl das Ergebnis auf Leis-tungsebene, meistens ein materielles Produkt, als auch die immateriellen Ergebnisse auf Ebene der Gruppenmoral und der persönlichen Entwicklungen betrachtet. Die Grund-idee dieses Modells ist es, dass das Ergebnis der Teamarbeit nicht unmittelbar durch die Input-Variablen bestimmt wird, sondern diese durch den Prozess umgewandelt werden. Einige Modellvarianten heißen daher auch Input-Mediator-Output-Modell. Das IPO-Modell nach Hackmann und Morris (H&M) unterteilt den Input in individuel-le, Gruppen- und Umweltfaktoren. Die individuellen und Gruppenfaktoren sind in dem Modell nach Dick und West (D&W) als Gruppenzusammensetzung, beziehungsweise in dem Modell nach Högl und Gemünden (H&G) als Teambesetzung betitelt. Es handelt sich dabei zum einen um Eigenschaften, welche die einzelnen Mitglieder mit sich bringen, wie zum Beispiel soziale Kompetenz, methodische Kompetenz, Präferenz für Teamarbeit und Ausbildung und Background. Zum anderen sind Eigenschaften der Gruppe gemeint wie Gruppengröße, Homogenität im Wissensstand oder Heterogenität untereinander. Letzteres bezieht sich beispielsweise auf das Alter, auf die Religion oder auf die Bildung, da so unterschiedliche Erfahrungen und unterschiedliches Knowhow zu einer Lösungs-findung beigetragen werden kann. Ein weiterer wichtiger Faktor für die Zusammenset-zung des Teams ist nach H&G die Teamführung und alle damit verbundenen Eigenschaf-ten, auf welche im Rahmen dieser Arbeit allerdings nicht genauer eingegangen wird. Die Umweltfaktoren stellen äußere Einflüsse dar, wie zum Beispiel in dem Modell nach D&W der kulturelle und organisationale Kontext, in dem das Team arbeitet. Der (Team-)Prozess besteht nach H&M aus der Interaktion zwischen den Mitgliedern. Folgende Faktoren sind dafür laut H&G und von D&W von Bedeutung: Kommunikation, Aufgabenkoordination, Ausgewogenheit der Beiträge (bzw. Minderheiteneinfluss), ge-genseitige Unterstützung, Arbeitsnormen, Kohäsion (und Identifikation), Partizipation, Autonomie und Entscheidungsfindung. Als Output bekommt man zum einen leistungsbezogene Ergebnisse, welche sich durch Effektivität, Effizienz und Quantität charakterisieren lassen. Die Effektivität beschreibt, in welchem Maße das Ziel erreicht wurde. Man kann es also mit Qualität gleichsetzen. Zum anderen bekommt man Ergebnisse, die sich auf die Teammoral und auf persönlichen Entwicklungen während der Teamarbeit beziehen: Geht man davon aus, dass die Zusam-menarbeit im Team nicht nur auf einmal beschränkt ist, sind Faktoren, die auf das Poten-zial für zukünftige Zusammenarbeit Auswirkung haben, weitere wichtige, immaterielle Ergebnisse, die im Output zu berücksichtigen sind. Diese sind nach H&G persönlicher Lernerfolg und Zufriedenheit. D&W fügen noch die Team-Lebendigkeit hinzu.
Benefits of successful teamwork
- Improved productivity and efficiency
- Higher job satisfaction
- Increased creativity and innovation
- Stronger relationships and moral
- Better problem-solving and decision-making
Challenges to successful teamwork
- Communication barriers
- Conflict and disagreements
- Lack of trust or respect
- Inadequate resources
- Poor leadership
Strategies for building/maintaining successful teamwork
- Team building activities
- Effective leadership
- Training and development
- Conflict resolution strategies
team coaching!!!!!!
Hackman, J. R., & Wageman, R. (2005). A Theory of Team Coaching. Academy of Management
The forming–storming–norming–performing model
tuckmann
15. Tuckman, B. W. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63(6), 384-399
Examples of successful teamwork
- Sports teams
- Business teams
- Educational teams
- Community service teams
- Military teams
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Barkley, E., Major, C., & Cross, P. (2014). Collaborative Learning Techniques (2nd ed.). Wiley. (Accessed: 24.04.2023). https://www.perlego.com/book/999446/collaborative-learning-techniques-a-handbook-for-college-faculty-pdf
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Belbin, R. M. (2010). Management Teams: Why They Succeed or Fail (3rd edition). Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann. (Accessed: 5.05.2023). http://196.43.128.20/xmlui/handle/20.500.12383/1061?show=full
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 Hackman, J. R. (2002). Leading Teams: Setting the Stage for Great Performances. Harvard Business Press. (Accessed: 24.04.2023). https://www.perlego.com/book/837329/leading-teams-setting-the-stage-for-great-performances-pdf
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 Hoegl, G., & Gemuenden, H. G. (2001). Teamwork quality and the success of innovative projects: A theoretical concept and empirical evidence. Organization Science, 12(4), 435-449. (Accessed: 5.05.2023). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228365985_Teamwork_Quality_and_the_Success_of_Innovative_Projects_A_Theoretical_Concept_and_Empirical_Evidence
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 Katzenbach, J. R., & Smith, D. K. (2005). The discipline of teams. Harvard business review, 83(7/8), 162-171. (Accessed: 5.05.2023). https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5893c76059cc68f6efd5355a/t/58a4f6cb6a4963c71a7f0084/1487206107130/The+Discipline+of+Teams.pdf
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 Katzenbach, J. R., & Smith, D. K. (1993). The wisdom of teams: Creating the high-performance organization. Harvard Business School Press. (Accessed: April .2023). https://findit.dtu.dk/en/catalog/58945eff8040e5ab45038d77
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Kerzner, H. (2017). Project Management. A Systems Approach to Planning, Scheduling, and Controlling. Wiley, 12th edition. (Accessed: 24.04.2023). https://www.perlego.com/book/3236853/project-management-a-systems-approach-to-planning-scheduling-and-controlling-pdf
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 Lencioni, P. (2002). The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Jossey-Bass. (Accessed: 5.05.2023). https://www.academia.edu/39178542/The_Five_Dysfunctions_of_aTeam_Patrick_Lencioni
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 Mathieu, J. E., Maynard, M. T., Rapp, T., & Gilson, L. L. (2008). Team effectiveness 1997-2007: A review of recent advancements and a glimpse into the future. Journal of Management, 34(3), 410-476. (Accessed: 5.05.2023). https://www.uio.no/studier/emner/matnat/ifi/INF5181/h15/articles-teamwork/mathieu_etal_2008_team-effectiveness-1997_2007_a_review_of_advancements_and_a_glimpse_into_the_future.pdf
- ↑ 10.00 10.01 10.02 10.03 10.04 10.05 10.06 10.07 10.08 10.09 10.10 Robbins, S. P. (2001). Organizational behavior (9th ed.). Prentice Hall. (Accessed: April .2023). https://findit.dtu.dk/en/catalog/589460498040e5ab4504b03f
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 Salas, E., Sims, D. E., & Burke, C. S. (2005). Is there a "big five" in teamwork?. Small group research, 36(5), 555-599. (Accessed: 5.05.2023). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/220041354_Is_there_a_Big_Five_in_Teamwork
- ↑ 12.00 12.01 12.02 12.03 12.04 12.05 12.06 12.07 12.08 12.09 12.10 12.11 Tannenbaum, S. I., Mathieu, J. E., Salas, E., & Cohen, D. (2012). Teams are changing: Are research and practice evolving fast enough?. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, 5(1), 2-24. (Accessed: 5.05.2023). https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/industrial-and-organizational-psychology/article/teams-are-changing-are-research-and-practice-evolving-fast-enough/6D811E1C7B16B12A14C403E720F3C2C3
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Tuckman, B. W. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63(6), 384-399. (Accessed: 5.05.2023). https://sci-hub.se/10.1037/h0022100
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Burba, M. (2018). Erfolgreiche Zusammenarbeit in Projektteams. Analyse der Projektmeetings bei einem Automobilhersteller (1. Aufl.). Springer. (Accessed: November 2020). https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-658-19829-9
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Becker, J. H., Pastoors, S., & Ebert, H. (2017). Praxishandbuch berufliche Schlüsselkompetenzen. 50 Handlungskompetenzen für Ausbildung, Studium und Beruf (1. Aufl.). Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. (Accessed: November 2020). https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-662-54925-4
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 16.4 16.5 16.6 16.7 16.8 16.9 DuBrin, A. J. (2010). Essentials of Management (10th edition). South-Western Cengage Learning. (Accessed: 5.05.2023). https://studydaddy.com/attachment/137689/epdfpub_essentials-of-management-ninth-edition.pdf
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Bornemann, S. (2012). Kooperation und Kollaboration. Das Kreative Feld als Weg zu innovativer Teamarbeit (1. Aufl.). VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. (Accessed: November 2020). https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-531-19179-9
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Nerdinger, F. W., Blickle, G., & Schaper, N. (2011). Arbeits- und Organisationspsychologie (2. Aufl.). Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. (Accessed: November 2020). https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-642-16972-4
- ↑ Lippmann, E., Pfister, A., & Urs, J. (2019). Handbuch Angewandte Psychologie für Führungskräfte. Führungskompetenzen und Führungswissen (5. Aufl.). Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. (Accessed: November 2020). https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-662-55810-2
- ↑ Hackman, J. R., & Wageman, R. (2005). A theory of team coaching. Academy of Management Review, 30(2), 269-287. (Accessed: 24.04.2023). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/253963423_A_Theory_of_Team_Coaching
