Collaboration: Problem Solving and Team Members
Advantages of collaboration
Better use of human resources and Improved Processes:
Teamwork results in a systemic approach to problem solving. Since teams communicate and transfer knowledge among team members, teamwork results in organized approach to solving a proble. For example, a team is more likely than an individual to set up project checkpoints and planning systems to enable all team members to contribute to the project (Janasz, Dowd, Schneider, 2002, p 311).
Since teams divide workload, collaboration leads to faster handling of tasks. When teams cutting across organizational hierarchy collaborate, they discover more loopholes and weak areas than would be if individuals were to handle the project.
In fact, studies have shown that companies which have embraced teamwork as their organizational philosophy show a rise in productivity, employee accountability of their work, timeliness, efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Creative output
When it comes to solving problems, there is consensus that two heads are better than one. When people collaborate, they make better decisions because people in groups have multiple approaches to solving problems. When an individual works to solve a problem, she faces the constraints imposed by her background, experience and resources. But when the team works on solving problems, they pull their resources together and find more than one way of solving a problem.
Many organizations are using this approach to get a competitive edge. For example, Proctor & Gamble has created more than 20 “communities of practice” which bring together volunteers from different parts of the company and focus on a specific area of expertise, such as fragrance or packaging. These groups meet and share ideas, and other employees can ask questions to them using the intranet (The Economist, 2009). The practice of sharing information across divisions has led to innovations in many of the company’s products.
Benefits to Organizations
When teamwork
Better use of human resources and Improved Processes:
Teamwork results in a systemic approach to problem solving. Since teams communicate and transfer knowledge among team members, teamwork results in organized approach to solving a proble. For example, a team is more likely than an individual to set up project checkpoints and planning systems to enable all team members to contribute to the project (Janasz, Dowd, Schneider, 2002, p 311).
Since teams divide workload, collaboration leads to faster handling of tasks. When teams cutting across organizational hierarchy collaborate, they discover more loopholes and weak areas than would be if individuals were to handle the project.
In fact, studies have shown that companies which have embraced teamwork as their organizational philosophy show a rise in productivity, employee accountability of their work, timeliness, efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Creative output
When it comes to solving problems, there is consensus that two heads are better than one. When people collaborate, they make better decisions because people in groups have multiple approaches to solving problems. When an individual works to solve a problem, she faces the constraints imposed by her background, experience and resources. But when the team works on solving problems, they pull their resources together and find more than one way of solving a problem.
Many organizations are using this approach to get a competitive edge. For example, Proctor & Gamble has created more than 20 “communities of practice” which bring together volunteers from different parts of the company and focus on a specific area of expertise, such as fragrance or packaging. These groups meet and share ideas, and other employees can ask questions to them using the intranet (The Economist, 2009). The practice of sharing information across divisions has led to innovations in many of the company’s products.
Benefits to Organizations
When teamwork
References: Organization Behavior, John R. Schermerhorn, James Hunt, Richard Osborn, 2008, John Wiley & Sons Communicating in Small Groups: Principles and Practices, 8e ISBN: 0205449565 Author: Steven Beebe, John Masterson copyright © 2006 Allyn & Bacon, Inc. A Pearson Education Company Interpersonal Skills in Organizations Chapter 15: Teams in the Workplace ISBN: 0072441224 Author: Suzanne C. De Janasz, Karen O. Dowd, Beth Z. Schneider copyright © 2002 The McGraw−Hill Companies