1 Reflect and Review

Now that you have completed your work on Working in Teams, let us review our workbook objectives.

• When you have completed this workbook you will be better able to assess the needs, responsibilities and motivations of your workteam.

  We have seen that, although all workteams meet certain basic criteria common objectives and a willingness to work together, with mutually dependent members who are picked and trained to carry out defined tasks there are many kinds of workteam. They vary by their size, location, type of work, type of organization, and so on.

  An interesting concept that is currently being put into effect by a number of organizations is the self-managed workteam. This is a revolutionary idea, because it challenges the traditional view that managers should control and direct operations, while employees do what they're told.

  Most team members gain benefits from workteam membership, including companionship, a sense of purpose, and a sense of belonging. This gives us some insight into their motivations: what drives them. As we have discussed, teams are composed of unique individuals, and team leaders must recognize and respect them as such. Successful leaders take time and trouble to get to know their team. Another crucial factor affecting motivation is the organizational culture: the way people are managed and treated, and what is expected of them.

  Workteams also have needs and responsibilities. Perhaps their most important needs are clear objectives, committed support from management, and adequate resources. It is the...