Teamwork and ProblemSolving Skills Chapter 4 Teamwork and

Teamwork and Problem-Solving Skills Chapter 4

Teamwork and Problem. Solving Skills n n Working well with others is an important skill for future success at work and requires good interpersonal skills. Using good interpersonal skills is an expectation in today’s workplace. This chapter explains the importance of working as a team member in the workplace and ways to promote team harmony. A team is a small group of people working together for a common purpose.

Teamwork and Problem. Solving Skills n Not too long ago, American workers were expected to leave their ability to think at the door when they entered the workplace. n Managers made the decisions, and workers followed their orders. n Workers spent long hours doing repetitive tasks that often required little or no training or thinking.

Teamwork and Problem. Solving Skills n n This style of management worked well for decades. It helped make the United States the top manufacturing country in the world. After World War II, the business world began to change. The economy boomed and new products were in such great demand that production hardly kept pace.

Teamwork and Problem. Solving Skills n Since products sold out quickly in the U. S. , product quality was not a major concern. n Quality a commitment by everyone in an organization to exceed customer expectations. n This lack of attention to quality began to hurt the American industry.

Teamwork and Problem. Solving Skills n n This lesson resulted in a number of changes in the workplace. The U. S. industry refocused on quality, making it the number one goal. The terms quality assurance and quality control refer to the strategies a company uses to ensure its products or services are of the highest quality. More and more companies are now using teams to help solve problems and increase productivity in the workplace.

What Your Employer Expects n Pros and Cons of the Team Approach n Teams reach better and more creative decisions than individuals. n Two heads are better than one. One person’s comments, often inspire ideas from another team member. Leads to new creative ideas that may never have surfaced otherwise. n n

Teamwork and Problem. Solving Skills n When research needs to be done, several people can gather information faster than one person can. n Effective teams make individuals feel better about themselves and the quality of their work. n Members may feel they are accomplishing more than they could as individuals.

Teamwork and Problem. Solving Skills There are disadvantages to the team approach too. n Teams usually take more time to reach a decision than individuals do. n Working with a group can be frustrating, especially if the team isn’t effective. n Personalities can clash. n Some people just aren’t good team members and make it difficult for the rest of the team. n

Teamwork and Problem. Solving Skills n Role of the Team in the Workplace n Generally there are three common types of teams exist: Functional n Cross-functional n Multi-functional n

Teamwork and Problem. Solving Skills n n n Functional Teams All members of a functional team have similar skills and expertise although they would not be able to perform each others’ jobs. Functional teams solve problems based on their understanding of the work to be done and each team member’s unique contribution. n Ex. Electricians, plumbers, and A/C specialists all work together as a team for factory maintenance.

Teamwork and Problem. Solving Skills n n n Cross-Functional Teams consists of workers from different areas within a company who are assigned to work on a specific project. Workers are selected based on their expertise and ability to make a unique and meaningful contribution. Ex. Designing a new car; design, manufacturing, marketing, financial depts.

Teamwork and Problem. Solving Skills n n Multi-Functional Team Multi-Functional teams have been cross-trained so that each person is able to perform the duties of all the other team members. n n n Ex. A team of workers assembling car air conditioners. Each member of the team would be able to perform all the jobs on the assembly line. When one worker is sick or needs a break, another team member can step in and do the job without further instruction.

Teamwork and Problem. Solving Skills n Each of the previous teams could perform as a self-directed team. n A self-directed team has been given full responsibility for carrying out its assignment. n Members of the team set goals, objectives, identify priorities, set budgets, develop work plans and solve problems.