Team Efficiency of the Australian Toys R Us Group - Research Paper Example

Workplace Team Abstract In attaining team efficiency and thus effectiveness, various factors are put into consideration. This report will thus examine Toys R Us group within Australia in relation to its objectives of popularizing the warehouse. Since groups entail diverse members, examination of each individual in relation is critical and this has been done by use of team attitude survey and the big five personality test. Findings indicated few threats such as partial mistrust within the group but integrity solved this. Lessons were also learned in improvement of team productivity through competition. Methodology Although different people in different places of works have different approaches towards work, there is a possibility of typecasting them since human beings are highly predictable (Robbins et al. 2009). While examining the work approach employed in Toys R Us based in Australia, it is important that personality tests in addition to team attitude surveys be administered for achievement of best results. Standing in a unique position to make unplanned observations of team members in their natural working environment, it has to be possible to observe and analyze how this team that has worked together for more than 5years works as a union. In order to effectively implement the analysis exercise, a range of questions, to be precise 10, were adopted and used as an assessment tool in the team attitude survey (Peterson 2010, p.90). Facilitating tools such as survey tools, e.g. survey monkey, is also taken into consideration to help out in getting feedback from team members. This is chosen since the exercise is to be as precise as possible and also ensure that less time of team members is consumed thus giving them chance to continue working as team members (Pritchett 1992, 65). In assessing personality traits, there is need to critically understand the role of personality in enhancing or undermining team effort. As such, the Big Five personality test is considered as the most appropriate in achieving this result. This decision is arrived at due to its dimension of consideration of personality factors that directly affect team output. These aspects include conscientiousness, agreeableness, intellect and neuroticism. Symbolically, the Big Five, as extensively used in the English language, tries to bring into attention the most important of the numerous varieties that are available. Thus, these five traits were chosen since they are the most important aspect in team association and playing. Resultant findings were later keyed into an excel spreadsheet for analysis and the results were discussed as below. Team members The team comprises of several members but the overall influential members are only six. The rest play the same roles and thus is little difference towards significant contribution to overall team output and maximization (Starcevich & Stowell 1990, p.96). The major roles of these six influential team members are briefed discussed below. However, it is worth to also note that the roles or functions of the team members are not limited to the descriptions given below. The warehouse manager is the senior team member and shoulders the responsibility of creating a specific direction of the team through objectives and thus ensures that these objectives are followed towards attaining success. By understanding the challenging working environment, the manager ensures the effects of individual members is been felt in the team as one. Having been in this position for a long time, the manager clearly understands what team playing entails and thus is well conversant with judgment and analysis of team results. The warehouse clerk is the second senior member of the warehouse, having extensive knowledge in record keeping and team contribution, this employee ensured that team results are achieved through coordinating roles played by various members (Jennings 1990). Ware house sales representative is involved in marketing the warehouse with its contents and the accountant is responsible for making financial records for the warehouse. Drivers are other key team members of the while the ware house while the store guard is the last member of the team. The team is playing in a project to increase the warehouse fame through social media tools and other advertisements in order to increase the number of customers. Interaction within and with the organization All team members rarely make direct interactions on normal occasions but in this project, the role of each team member is equal towards achieving the same result (Parker 2011). Therefore their interactions were directed through the coordination of the manager and thus each team member will signify a crucial part in achievement of desired result. The team has to achieve the desired results in a period of thirty days from the day of commencement. The aim of this project is to retain the image of the warehouse company by reassuring that the store is still the most preferred destination in Australia and future trends are likely going to be maintained. In this respect, team members were expected to collaboratively work together toward attaining the goals or objectives of the project. Team goals The goals of the team were to ensure that the warehouse improves its name in Australia by gaining a popularity of about 25% more in a period of sixty days. By so doing, the team would also ensure that the warehouse or store at Toys R Us will continue to dominate the warehousing industry in Australia in the next few years due increased popularity. Through this, it is overall agreeable that individual team efforts would highly contribute towards organizational popularity in a period of two months. Members reassured of their commitment towards achieving this by dedicating their time resource, physical effort and other available opportunities for completion of this task. In implementation of this task, close cooperation is of great necessity. Individual members showed total cooperation and thus commitment towards achieving the desired objectives of the group. Analysis of on team criterion In analyzing group members, different approaches will be taken into consideration. These as specified in Robbin et. Al (2009) are influential key performance indicator of successful team efforts. These are discussed as below. Relevant skills Skills are an indispensable aspect in completion of tasks. Without adequate skills, completion of tasks would prove impossible and thus nothing would be implemented (Robbins, Bergman, Stagg & Coulter, et al., 2009). In this project, various skills were required to achieve the aims and goals of the project. From managerial perspective and individual confessions, the group has the right skills to undertake and complete the required tasks to aid completion of the project. Members have social media knowledge and experience adequate enough for posting of content. As a manager, it is a responsibility of teaching members on other paths to use in the campaign and thus equip them with appropriate skills needed in achievement of desired goals. Mutual trust Mutual trust plays a cruel role in achievement of effectiveness and efficiency within a group setting (Richardson, 2010). This is partially achieved in the group during the project exercise. From past individual records in the organization, the manager felt that some members of the group did not is good interpersonal terms and this would affect mutual trust in the team. The same reflection is evident from other team affiliates that other members and the team leader could not exhibit mutual trust. This created one challenging step towards achieving organizational goals (Robert1993, p.76). Without high levels of integrity, this type of relationships could negatively impact the project and thus hinder the achievement of the desired results. In achieving this, members is been educated on effects of personal differences on their work and is been thus advised to keep the off duty (Robert 1993). With these set, team members were naturally cheerful and this is a good quality in achieving team objectives (Berkeley 2006). Given that they are reasonable characters of high integrity, it is an added advantage that project success would not go amiss. In a survey done on their perception of the group leader, who is the store manager, they exhibited confidence that the leader is of unquestionable character, which cemented trust in the group. Unified commitment Unified commitment in a team environment is critical in achievement of the zeal required to ensure team success is achieved (Maxwell 2003, p.28). With promising motivation from group members towards this project, unified commitment is foreseen from the start. From allegiance of absolute commitment from individual team members, it is obvious that team members have high levels of commitment towards achieving group objectives. The members also gave assurance of taking risks involved in the process to achieve the group’s aims and objective. Good communication Effective communication is essential in delegation and discharge of duty in a working environment (Larson, Frank, M. J. & LaFasto 2008, p.87). Members have no barrier to verbal communication since all of them are native English speakers and is previously is regular verbal communications. However, communication should be clear and easily understood (Maxwell 2010). Members of the group is previously elicited no communication ambiguities and thus clearance is of no doubt. As planned, English will still be used as a communication language and during each regular meeting; feedback from group members is encouraged to ensure clarity in the group. Opinion sharing is one of the most effective methods of improving communication within a group since it opens up group members for interaction. Opinion sharing is highly encouraged during participation in team effort and thus help in shaping group communication. Negotiating skills Negotiating skills are vital in checking critical situations and thus bringing into circumstances into balance (Johnson 2009). Different people have different levels of negotiating skills (Maxwell 2003). It is almost impossible to for all human beings to have favorable negotiating skills. With this understanding, evaluation of negotiating skills within group members was of paramount importance. Only one member is required to engage in activities that least needs negotiating skills due to the provision made above. Appropriate leadership Leadership plays an invaluable role in directing group members towards achieving group objectives (Bonham 2010). Through good leadership, motivation is sustained for continual productivities. Thus good leadership that involves less assertion and more dialogue is of high value (Mark 2011). Through the leadership of the warehouse manager, who already understands the difference between management and leadership, team members are engaging during the project, voice their opinions and make consultations and suggestion to decision making processes since each member will play the role of a leader at certain stages. Internal support Education is a great asset in provision of appropriate skills for completion of tasks. Without adequate training, project delays may continually slow down success achievement (Trumbauer 2000). With this understanding, the firm has thoroughly invested in training of group members on all aspects that concern market popularization. Since this exercise is largely distributive, each member has been required to keep record of activities done and in response also try to find out the effect of his work in impacting the project (Parker 2011). This is a foundational tool for individual self assessment of commitment effort. In enhancement of this, group members have provided incentives for the most creative and effective team members (Smith 2010, p.78). In order to apply fairness to all members, all members are provided with free internet connection throughout the period and financial aid to aid travelling and discovering opportunities (Patrick 2010). This will serve the purposes of supporting group members in achieving project goals. External support External support is highly important in achieving great project success. It provides for additional resources that would otherwise be unavailable within the means of project initiators (Wild, Mayeaux & Edmonds 2008). Since this is a project done within the Toys R Us organization, external required support would be educational based. Members are given external educational foundation for commencement and continuity of the project. This will greatly help in completion of the project. Conclusion From the report it is evident that the team’s overall ability was on almost expected levels. Although mutual trust almost lacked in group members, high integrity fostered with further leadership advice ensured its minimization. Providing incentives for group members could also maximize productivity. Group-effort maximization leads to better productivity of individual members. In assessing personality traits, there was need to critically understand the role of personality in enhancing or undermining team effort. As such, the Big Five personality test was considered as the most appropriate giving results. Recommendations It is imperative that the degree of diversity in personality traits be evaluated. Secondly, provision of incentives for performance enhancement is of paramount importance. Thirdly, assumptions should not be made in the groups such that all personalities are of similar reactions. Thus consideration of personality traits should be taken into consideration. References Berkeley, P. (2006).Handbook for teamwork. Chicago, Chicago: McMillan. Bonham, C.(2009. Teamwork: The Heart and Soul in Sports. London, UK: Prentice Hall. Bonham,C. (2010). Team Effort. London, UK: Prentice Hall. Carl E. Larson, Frank M. J. LaFasto, (2008). Teamwork: what must go right, what can go wrong. New York, NY: Prentice Hall. Frank R. H.(2011). Teamwork: what must be done. 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