Principles in Team Behaviour

Sub-topics

1. Teams2. Team-formation model3. Types of teams4. Why do people join in teams?5. External conditions imposed on the team6. Team members’ resources7. Team structure

Sub-topics

8. Definition of norms9. Team size10. Team demography / composition11. Movies - The Abilene Paradox - Groupthink

1. Teams

• Which people form a team? • How much time do we dedicate by

participating in teams?• What types of teams exist?• Which are the different stages that members

of teams go through?

2. Team-formation model

• Dependency and inclusion• Inter-dependency & Collision• Trust & Structure• Work / Production• Termination

3. Types of teams

• Formal teams - Functional / hierarchical teams - Project teams• Informal teams - Interest teams - Friendship / socialising teams

4. Why do people join in teams?

• Security• Status• Self-esteem• Affiliation• Power• Goal achievement

5. External conditions imposed on the team

• Organisation strategy• Authority structures• Formal regulations• Organisational resources• Personnel selection processes• Performance evaluation and reward systems• Organisational culture• Physical work setting

6. Team members’ resources

• Abilities• Personality characteristics

7. Team structure

• Formal leadership• Roles• Norms• Status• Size • Composition

8. Definition of norms

• Acceptable standards of behaviour• Formal and / or informal … that are shared by the members of the

team

9. Team size

• Smaller teams complete tasks faster• Larger teams perform tasks better• Larger teams contribute to social loafing• Teams with an odd number of members tend

to perform better• Team of 5-7 members tend to be a ‘happy

size’

10. Composition – team demography

• Heterogeneous groups are more conflict laden and less expedient

• Heterogeneous groups generally perform more effectively?

• The degree of differences among team members is a moderating variable

11. Video clips

• When teams don’t perform well / to the best of their abilities

- Abilene Paradox … - Groupthink …