Team Building 1 - Essay Example

Leadership Answer The three different types of teams have been described below:1. Task Team: Task teams are formed as a result of the special requirements by an organization. It can be a particular project requiring multiple skills and experiences or finding solution for a critical problem. For instance, national government hires special task forces comprising of different police and security departments for solving issues such as terrorist attack or bomb blasts (West, 2012). Another example is engineering projects comprising of individuals from different backgrounds.

A task team is best utilized when team members are compatible and are experienced in working with such teams (Cook, Mangla & Ummer, 2009). 2. Self-Directed Teams: Self Directed teams are self-managed and take the responsibility of completely managing the entire work segments or processes. In general, these are highly experienced, skilled and knowledgeable groups having considerable power in terms of directing, making decisions and ownership of the entire job (West, 2012) . Self directed teams can be found in companies as teams handling an entire production line or an entire category of brand.

A self-directed team can be best utilized by cross-training activities that will help them in mastering their job. Cross-training will also allow better flexibility within the team thereby generating higher performance among team members (Cook, Mangla & Ummer, 2009). 3. Decision team: Decision teams are often found in highest positions in an organization. For instance, the board of directors or strategic management team handle importance decision making task such as setting organizational objectives, long-term and short term vision and strategies for sales and development of products and services.

This team is also generally in charge of the strategic and financial plans. The decision team can be best utilized in creating external corporate contacts and developing networks for funding and long-term development and sustainability of the organization (Dyer, W.G., Dyer, Jr & Dyer, G. H. 2007). Answer 2 After consulting with numerous teams and conducting extensive research on the performance, analysts have discovered four “Cs” which teams need to understand as well as manage for achieving a superior performance.

The four Cs are as follows; 1. Context: Context for teams refers to environment within the organization wherein a team must act. High performance teams are known to manage context in an efficient manner by 1) establishing team goals that are measurable, compelling and clear, 2) Making team work a critical component for achieving goals, 3) creating reward systems based on team performance (Dyer, W.G., Dyer, Jr & Dyer, G. H. 2007) 4) eliminating roadblocks created by formal and rigid organizational structures and 5) establishing a culture supporting behaviors and processes oriented towards teamwork (National Education Association, n.d.). 2. Composition: Composition of a team signifies the attitudes and skills of the team members.

Other factors influencing the composition are team size and motivation. Team composition contributes to improved performance through selecting individuals based on their motivation and skills, establishing strategies for enhancing the interpersonal and technical skills of team members and ensuring a right sized team (Cook, Mangla & Ummer, 2009). 3. Competencies: Competencies of a team includes their ability to resolve issues, communication, managing conflicts and making decisions. Competencies contribute by effectively receiving and giving feedbacks, making effective decisions and effective resolution of disagreements or disputes (West, 2012). 4. Change Management: Change Management is skills for monitoring performance and making amendments wherever required.

Change management contribute by creating teams that value regular evaluation and promoting philosophy of regular change for better performance (West, 2012). ReferencesCook, S., Mangla, A. & Ummer, F. (2009). Building a high-performance team. Cambs, GBR: IT Governance Dyer, W.G., Dyer, Jr., W.G. & Dyer, J.H. (2007). Team building: Proven strategies for improving team performance (4th ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. National Education Association. (n.d.). An Educator’s Guide to the “Four Cs”.

Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/A-Guide-to-Four-Cs.pdfWest, M.A. (2012). Effective teamwork: Practical lessons from organizational research (3d ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.