Analysis: The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni is a fable about an up and coming company called Decision Tech. Decision Tech is a technology company which despite having a very talented executive team, has continuous declining staff moral, a low customer base, and inadequate profit margins. Because of the lack of progress the chairman of Decision Tech decided to hire Kathryn Petersen to be the new CEO. Kathryn was given two goals, the first was to determine the cause for Decision Tech to failure, and secondly to fix that problem. Kathryn has seven reports who are apart of her executive team, each with a dysfunctional behavior that most readers can relate to from their own work experience. Kathryn uses her first few weeks on the
This is caused by the lack of commitment. Team members are not going to hold each other accountable if no one has committed to the project or plan. When a team is functioning properly they are able to hold each other accountable without taking offense. Each team should have the same standards of levels of performance. By not having accountability, team members learn that it is acceptable to miss deadlines and have mediocre performance. If team members are unwilling to hold each other accountable it pushes the burden of discipline on to the leader which can cause resentment towards the leader. Teams who are committed to accountability are able to quickly identify problems without hesitation, which establishes respect between team members when everyone if held to the same
This dysfunction occurs when team members put their individual needs before the needs of the team or organization. Teams who pay attention to results celebrates successes as a team and minimizes individualistic behavior. This fable relates to the world of education because it is all about teamwork. In education teamwork is no optional, to be an effective teacher we have to collaborate, plan, share ideas and support each other. Not only do teachers have to work with each other they need to consider the students and parents apart of the team. Each school has to have objectives and goals to reach. The only way to reach those goals is to have complete team commitment. To have team commitment it is essential that all staff members have a voice in determining goals and a clear understanding of what must be achieved, how the progress of the goal will be measured, and the time frame in which the goal must be accomplished by. By working as a team there is a higher quality of outcomes that are more efficient, thoughtful and effective. Each team member must also understand their role and responsibility in the process of reaching the goal, so everyone is able to hold themselves and others