Assessing the Challenges of Teamwork

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the reasons for the failure of teams, including a lack of trust, a lack of tolerance for healthy conflict, lack of passionate commitment and a lack of accountability. The writer explains the role of a leader in building teams and inspiring trust, and the importance of developing shared ownership and commitment to their objectives. The paper concludes that teamwork is hard work and there is no substitute for the need on the part of leaders to infuse organizations with trust, a healthy regard for conflict and absolute commitment for results.

Outline:
Introduction
Dispelling the Myth of Teamwork Always Being the Answer
Summary

From the Paper:

"The hypocrisy of teamwork always being the panacea for what in many organizations are systemic process-related disconnects, for example, the customer service department that needs the help of product marketing to understand when a new product is being launched but hear about it from customers calling in from support, is a case in point. The communication process between customer service and marketing in this case is broken, and no amount of teamwork and forced collaboration will solve it. Only through healthy conflict (Lencioni, 2003) where the symptoms of this more fundamental and systemic disconnect at the process level are discovered, solved and redefined can teamwork how to exist between these two departments."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Jeanne Brett, Kristin Behfar, Mary C Kern. (2006). Managing Multicultural Teams. Harvard Business Review, 84(11), 84-91. Retrieved September 2, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 1151916931).
• Patrick M. Lencioni (2003). The trouble with teamwork. Leader to Leader, 2003(29), 35. Retrieved September 1, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 608343361).
• Steven P Vallas (2003). Why teamwork fails: Obstacles to workplace change in four manufacturing plants. American Sociological Review, 68(2), 223-250. Retrieved September 3, 2008, from ABI/INFORM Global database. (Document ID: 340701161).

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