Definition of Teamwork
Discuss about the Practical Lessons from Organizational Research.
The “advent of globalization and the recent developments in the fields of technology as well as innovations has drastically modified the way the various business organizations as well as companies transact their business in the present times” (Costa, Passos and Bakker 2014). Therefore, it is commonly seen that the various organizations in the framework of the contemporary business world take the help of various kinds of effective strategies for the purpose of their business (Torrente, Salanova and Llorens 2013). A common example of this particular fact is the emergence of various kinds of teams in the fold of the various organizations of the present times. It is significant to note that with the emergence of various teams in the framework of the business world the concept of teamwork has also gained prominence in the present times (Costa, Passos and Bakker 2014). Therefore, it is seen that the various organizations of the present times try to foster a team environment at the workplace in order to creative not only a positive environment at the workplace but also to creative a congenial environment where the employees would be able to perform to their maximum potential (Torrente, Salanova and Llorens 2013). Many scholars are of the opinion that the concept of teams and teamwork provides various benefits to the organizations the primary one of which is the enhancement of the performance level of the employees and thereby indirectly of the entire organization itself (Torrente, Salanova and Llorens 2013). This report will discuss about the concept of teamwork through the lens of Tuckman’s Model. The report will also discuss about the role of the leaders, managers and the “ethical decision making process” within the fold of team.
The concept of teamwork can be defined as the collaborative as well as the collective effort of the various individuals who are related to a team for the “achievement of a particular goal or objective” (Valentine, Nembhard and Edmondson 2015). The various organizations of the contemporary business world are increasingly taking the help of this particular concept “to bring about the overall growth as well as the development of their business” (Valentine, Nembhard and Edmondson 2015). This particular concept gained popularity back in the 1920s and 1930s on the score of various “Hawthorne studies” which were conducted with the objective to find out the ways by means of which the overall performance of a particular organization can be enhanced (Valentine, Nembhard and Edmondson 2015). Furthermore, “the contemporary High Performance Organizational Model” also stresses on the importance of the concepts of teams and teamwork within the framework of the various organizations (Galegher, Kraut and Egido 2014). Many scholars are of the opinion that the framework of team and teamwork provides innumerable benefits or advantages to the organizations of the present times (Galegher, Kraut and Egido 2014). Firstly of all, this particular ensures that the “goals as well as the objectives set out by the organization are effectively achieved by dint of the collective and the collaborative effort of the various individuals who are related to the organization” (Galegher, Kraut and Egido 2014). Moreover, the various teams also creative a congenial environment where the different individuals are able to perform to their maximum potential (Ku, Tseng and Akarasriworn 2013). It is significant to note that the various organizations of the present times try to foster a competitive team environment wherein the different entities of the concerned team competes with other and this particular concept that not only the individual performance but also the performance of the overall team is enhanced at the same time (Ku, Tseng and Akarasriworn 2013). Therefore, it is a reflection of this particular fact that the various teams as well as the concept of teamwork have emerged as important one of the most important ones within the framework of the contemporary business world (Ku, Tseng and Akarasriworn 2013).
Advantages of Teamwork in Organizations
Bruce Tuckman came up with one of the most widely used models of teamwork in the 1970s which is called by the name of “Tuckman’s Model of teamwork” (Nancarrow et al. 2013). This particular framework takes into consideration four different stages in the process of the formation of an effective. The four different stages of this particular model are “forming, storming, norming and performing” (Nancarrow et al. 2013). The first stage of this particular process refers to the stage wherein the manual formation of the team occurs with the coming together of people from different professional as well as social backgrounds (Nancarrow et al. 2013). The second stage of group or team formation as per “Tuckman’s Model of teamwork” is the stage of storming which is the stage during which the individuals related to the team start to “push against the boundaries established in the forming stage”(Torrente et al. 2012). Many scholars of the opinion that this is one of the most important stages in the process of team formation as it is during this particular stage that whether the team formation will be successful or not is decided depending on the actions of the people during this particular stage (Torrente et al. 2012). The third stage in “Tuckman’s Model of teamwork” is the stage of norming in which stage the different entities of the team try to resolve the issues which they face on the basis of their cultural, social and other kinds of factors (Boermans et al. 2014). Therefore, it would be apt to say that along with the stage of storming this also forms one of the most important stages in the process of team formation. Many scholars are of the opinion that the resolution of the personal differences between the various entities of the team is very essential as it helps in the formation of an effective team and can in many ways be seen as the preparatory ground for the next stage which is the stage wherein the different members related to the team actually start performing (Boermans et al. 2014). The final stage in “Tuckman’s Model of teamwork” is the stage of performing during which the actual performance of the individuals actually begins (Robinson and Stubberud 2014). Many scholars are of the opinion that this particular stage can be seen that culmination of the above mentioned stages and therefore the above mentioned stages play a significant role and decide the outcome of this particular stage (Robinson and Stubberud 2014).
Tuckman’s Model of Teamwork
The leader of a particular organization plays a very significant role in guiding as well as leading the various entities of the organization towards “the success achievement of the goals as well as the objectives set out by the concerned organization” (El-Sofany, Alwadani and Alwadani 2014). The role of a particular leader also becomes very significant not only for the purpose of leading the team but the leader also plays a significant role during the process of the formation of the team as well (El-Sofany, Alwadani and Alwadani 2014). For example, during the first stage of the process of team formation, namely, the stage of forming, the leader is required to select the individuals who would not be useful for the team but at the same time contribute in a positive manner towards the team (El-Sofany, Alwadani and Alwadani 2014). Furthermore, during the second stage of team formation, namely, the stage of storming, the leader is required to effective regulate the activities of the individuals who form a part of the organization (Galegher, Kraut and Egido 2014). Many scholars are of the opinion that the role of a leader becomes the most important during the stage of norming (Galegher, Kraut and Egido 2014). It is significant to note that it is during this particular stage that the resolution of the various kinds of conflicts which the individuals have gets resolved and therefore the needs to act as a mediator and at the same time ensure that these conflicts and issues do not affect the overall performance of the teams (Galegher, Kraut and Egido 2014). The role of the leader also becomes important stage of team formation or the stage of performing. It is significant to note that it is during this particular stage that the actual performance of a particular team and therefore the leader related to the team is required to ensure that the various entities related to the team perform to their maximum potential (Jackson, Sibson and Riebe 2014). Therefore, it is generally seen that the leader takes the help of various kinds of methods like motivation, team engagement and others to ensure that the team is able to perform to its maximum potential (Jackson, Sibson and Riebe 2014). Thus, it would be apt to say that the leader related to a particular team plays one of the most important roles within the framework of the team.
Role of Leaders in Team Formation and Performance
The process of decision making forms a very important process within the framework of the contemporary business world. It is a reflection of this particular aspect that the various organizations of the present times try to take the help of various kinds of “decision making process” like “ethical decision making” and others (Acosta, Salanova and Llorens 2012). Many scholars are of the opinion that the concept of “decision making process” is equally important within the framework of the modern day teams which have come to form an important part of the various modern day organizations related to the genre of business (Acosta, Salanova and Llorens 2012). Therefore, the leader of a particular team needs to take various kinds of decisions regarding the team which directly affects the particular team. Thus, many scholars are of the opinion that the various leaders need to take the help of “ethical decision making process” for the making of various kinds of decisions which directly affects the team concerned (Acosta, Salanova and Llorens 2012). Furthermore, the decision making process of the leaders also gains prominence during the time of the actual formation of the team and also for their latter performance (Costa, Passos and Bakker 2014). The leader is required to take effective decisions for the resolution of various conflicts which arise during the initial phases of the formation of the team. Many scholars are of the opinion the effective resolution of these conflicts is very important for the effective performance of the various people who are related to the team and thereby it can be said that the role of the leader in this particular becomes very significant (Costa, Passos and Bakker 2014).
The various physical structures have gained a considerable amount of prominence within the framework of the contemporary business world and in the present times it is generally that they influence the performance level of a particular team in a significant manner (Torrente, Salanova and Llorens 2013). It is a reflection of this particular fact that the various organizations of the present times take the help of various kinds of physical structures not only for the process of the formation of the teams but also for the process of their actual performance (Torrente, Salanova and Llorens 2013). Furthermore, it is generally seen that the various organizations of the present times take the help of the physical structures to provide effective outdoor training to the different entities of the team which is likely to enhance their performance in the latter times (Galegher, Kraut and Egido 2014). Moreover, it is also seen that the various team leaders take the help of diverse kinds of physical structures to effective convey the mission as well as the objectives for which the concerned team was actually formed (Galegher, Kraut and Egido 2014). Many scholars are of the opinion that the physical structures have emerged as important entities which not only affects the formation of the teams but also their performance in the latter part (Galegher, Kraut and Egido 2014). Thus, it is seen that the various organizations as well as the leaders related to them are increasingly turning towards this particular concept to further enhance the performance of the various teams related to them.
Importance of Ethical Decision Making in Team Formation and Performance
The changing nature of the contemporary business world has made it imperative for the various organizations to take the help of the construct of team (Ku, Tseng and Akarasriworn 2013). Thus, the various organizations of the present times try to foster an environment where team work would be encouraged. The role of the various managers related to a particular organization becomes very significant to note in this particular context. The manager along with the leader of the organization is required to take an active interest not only for the promotion of team culture within the framework of the organization but also for the creation of the various teams which would further enhance the prospects of the concerned organization (Ku, Tseng and Akarasriworn 2013). Many scholars are of the opinion that one of the key advantages of the promotion of team work within the organization is not only of the promotion of the collaborative spirit but also of the competitive spirit among the diverse entities related to the organization (Valentine, Nembhard and Edmondson 2015). Thus, it is seen that the various managers take the help of the concept of team work to “not only enhance the individual performance of the individuals related to a particular team but also to enhance the overall performance of the business organization or the company concerned” (Valentine, Nembhard and Edmondson 2015). Furthermore, in the contemporary business world it is also seen that the various managers tend to create specialized teams which would be dealing with specific task in order to improve the performance level of the teams (Valentine, Nembhard and Edmondson 2015). Therefore, it can be said that the insistence on the concepts of collaboration and competition is one of the best ways to create a team environment at the workplace.
Conclusion
To conclude, the concepts of team and team work has become one of the most important ones within the framework of the modern day business world. Therefore, the various organizations of the present times take the help of this particular concept for the process of business operations. There are certain steps which the organizations need to take into consideration for the formation of effective teams which would add value to the organization concerned. The most commonly used method for the creation of teams is “Tuckman’s Model of teamwork”. Furthermore, the role of the various leaders as well as the managers has also emerged as important ones within the particular context of the business world. The leader is required not only to effectively motivate the employees so that they are able to perform in a much better manner but also to create a positive environment where the different entities of the team will be able to work in a much better manner. It is a reflection of this particular fact that the various organizations of the present times tend to create a team environment at their workplace.
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