High Performance Work Teams

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the impact of high performance work teams. The paper presents research in the field of understanding self-managed work teams and their effectiveness in improving productivity and performance. The research indicates that there are two schools of thought. The first indicates that high performance work teams can be influential in improving the productivity and the profitability of the organization. The second shows that executive management and associated governing bodies have to constantly monitor team performance. The paper explores organizational values and culture, assessing that both can affect the manner in which self-managed teams are created and operated. The paper contends that different ways of decision making, trust and mutual respect, and levels of team member accountability can also help improve the morale and performance of the team.

Outline
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Discussion
2.1 Developing and Supporting HPWT in Manufacturing
2.2 HPWT and Multinational Organizations
2.3 Impact of HPWT in Implementing Lean Management Concepts
2.4 HPWT and Six-Sigma
Chapter 3: Conclusion

From the Paper:

"High Performance work teams (HPWT) are generally implemented in an organization as a way of improving and increasing work skill and worker flexibility while at the same time offering a forum by which the work can be trained and developed at all times. (Thompson, Baughan, & Motwani, 1998) Self-managed teams are defined as teams that maintain a high degree of collaboration. These teams manage their operations and agendas with a focus to make themselves high performing. There are many advantages and challenges to using teams in organizations. Organizations are moving to flatter and more dispersed structures. These structures are better suited to team working. There are also many internal factors; for instance, the microenvironment of the organization that also needs to be analyzed prior to setting up teams within an organization. Teams have their own individuality and style -just like people. And, local culture and values can also play a significant role in the creation and operation of teams. In a global environment, and with many organizations having operations in more than one location and country, high performance work teams are no longer restricted within a set geographical boundary."

More papers on High Performance Work Teams:

• Essay # 61961 : "High Performance Work Teams (HPWT)"
• Case Study # 110098 : "Theory at Work - High Performance Teams"
• Research Paper # 99031 : "High Performance Teams"

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