Team Dynamics and Conflict Resolutions
Team Dynamics and Conflict Resolution Abstract
Teams are now a common part of today's workforce. They are advantageous for the productivity and morale of the individual employees. Yet with all groups come conflicts. Knowing how to handle a group conflict effectively and still work together is an integral part of a successful team. This paper will take a look at what a team is and the origins of teams. It will then transition to the processes involved in creating a team and then move to advantages and disadvantages of team. Finally, this paper will discuss conflicts in a team and how to resolve them efficiently. Team Dynamics and Conflict Resolution in Work Teams
For companies to remain competitive in today's economy, they need to look at their processes with a renewed vigor. Companies must become more creative, maintain higher morale, and become more efficient. Companies are learning that they can accomplish all the above by getting away from individual efforts and moving toward teams. For the next four points we will be discussing team building in the workforce, the process behind a team, advantages and disadvantages, and finally identifying and resolving conflicts.
To begin with, we need to establish the difference between a group and a team. According to Wisdom of Teens, Jon R. Katzenbach defines a group that has "no significant incremental performance need or opportunity." An example of a group would be a few co-workers placed together by management to come up with an ad campaign that is to be distributed amongst other employees. The co-workers belonging to the group does not work independently and they most likely come up with their ideas while together. Each person of the group does not work interdependently and individual co-workers are not independently accountable for specific tasks. A team is defined as "a small number of people with complementary skills who are equally committed to a common purpose, goals, and working
Teams are now a common part of today's workforce. They are advantageous for the productivity and morale of the individual employees. Yet with all groups come conflicts. Knowing how to handle a group conflict effectively and still work together is an integral part of a successful team. This paper will take a look at what a team is and the origins of teams. It will then transition to the processes involved in creating a team and then move to advantages and disadvantages of team. Finally, this paper will discuss conflicts in a team and how to resolve them efficiently. Team Dynamics and Conflict Resolution in Work Teams
For companies to remain competitive in today's economy, they need to look at their processes with a renewed vigor. Companies must become more creative, maintain higher morale, and become more efficient. Companies are learning that they can accomplish all the above by getting away from individual efforts and moving toward teams. For the next four points we will be discussing team building in the workforce, the process behind a team, advantages and disadvantages, and finally identifying and resolving conflicts.
To begin with, we need to establish the difference between a group and a team. According to Wisdom of Teens, Jon R. Katzenbach defines a group that has "no significant incremental performance need or opportunity." An example of a group would be a few co-workers placed together by management to come up with an ad campaign that is to be distributed amongst other employees. The co-workers belonging to the group does not work independently and they most likely come up with their ideas while together. Each person of the group does not work interdependently and individual co-workers are not independently accountable for specific tasks. A team is defined as "a small number of people with complementary skills who are equally committed to a common purpose, goals, and working
References: Katzenbach, J.R. & Smith, D.K. (1993). The Wisdom of Teams: Creating the High-performance Organization. Boston: Harvard Business School. Lippman-Blumen Jean. (Spring 99). Hot Groups `With Attitude ': A New Organizational State of Mind. Vol 27 issue 4. Retrieved on June 19, 2004 from University of Phoenix Online library. Stewart G., Manz C., & Sims H. (1999). Teamwork and Group Dynamics. New York: Wiley. pp 1-16. Bolman-Deal. (Autumn 1992). What Makes a Team Work? Unit 3, Team Processes: Developing Synergistic Team Relations, Team Processes at the Fitzgerald Battery Plant, Pages 83-88, University of Phoenix Online, Harrington-Mackin, Deborah (1994). The team building tool kit: tips, tactics, and rules for effective workplace teams. p. 2-3 Arthur R. Pell, PH.D, Author of The Complete Idiot 's Guide to Team Building (introduction) Engleberg, I., Wynn, D., & Schuttler, R. (2003). Working in groups: Communication principles and strategies (3rd ed.) Boston: Houghton Miffon.