Teamwork Makes a Dream Work - Essay Example

? Teamwork makes a dream work Introduction Team is defined as a collection of two or more individual who have some specific roles assigned, performs specific tasks and interact with themselves in order to achieve a common outcome or goal. The team members, who are knowledgeable and skilful, are responsible for taking significant decision and are often seen to work under high workload and pressure (Hills, 2001). There are various models on teamwork among which Belbin’s Team Role Theory is the most significant one. Team role has been defined by Belbin as “a tendency to behave, contribute and interrelate with others in a particular way” (Utley, 2010, p. 284). This study aims towards conducting a in-depth analysis of teamwork. The nine roles of Belbin Implementer Implementer is a person who works for the benefits and interests of the company rather than being motivated via self-interest. The key qualities that acts as the strength for this role is self-discipline, attitude for working hard, common sense and the ability to organize. On the other hand the key weaknesses of this role include lack of flexibility and the inability to accept new concepts and ideas (BELBIN Associates, 2012). Co-ordinator Coordinator is the leader who is confident and self-controlled. The key strengths of this team role are that they have the ability to welcome all the team members on the basis of their merits and at the same time they also understand the objectives of the team. But they have an average ability in terms of creativity and intellectuality, which serves as a major weakness. Shaper Shaper is the team leader who activates the team and is highly dynamic and strong. The major qualities of this role are strong willingness and drive to challenge self-deception, inertia, complacency and ineffectiveness. Weaknesses include impatience and can be easily irritated and provoked. Plant Plan is an unorthodox type of team leader who works on his or her own wish. The key strengths are intelligence, in-depth knowledge and creativity. Weaknesses include the tendency to ignore rules and impracticality. Resource Investigator This kind of leaders works by forming a network of individuals who can produce ideas and is enthusiastic and extrovert. The main strengths of this kind of leader is willingness to accept anything which is new and the ability to respond to the challenges. The weakness includes the tendency of losing interest once the newness has gone away. Monitor-Evaluator This team leader is characterised by making up his mind and finally reaching to a decision which is shrewd. They are cautious and unemotional and have strong sense of discretion and judgement. Weaknesses include the inability to motivate other people. Team Worker Team worker is the person who has the skill and patience to listen to others and avoid any type of conflict that is occurring between the other members. The key qualities include awareness regarding the team spirit and sensitivity to other situations and people. Indecisiveness during a situation of crisis is a major weakness. Completer-finisher This person is conscious, painstaking and has the ability to complete anything that has been started. This person is bestowed with the ability to follow things and is perfectionist in whatever is done. Weaknesses include reluctance to let things go and worrying about small things. Specialists Specialists are persons who provide skills and knowledge that are rare. This person is highly dedicated towards his/her work, self-starting and single-minded. The major weakness of this person is the inability to see the larger picture. They only contribute to the team within their specialist field (Keen, 2003; Anon., n.d.). Tuckman’s Team Development Model In the year 1965 Bruce Tuckman has identifies the four stages of team development that has been described below: Forming In this stage the members are assembled to form a team and understand the task to be performed. Storming In this stage the members of a team becomes comfortable to each other and often engages into arguments. Norming In this stage the whole team reaches to an agreement of rules as how the goal of the team will be achieved. Performing At this stage the team comes to conclusion and implements the recommendations. Adjourning At this stage the project gets completed and the team disbands (Johnson, 2009; McShane, Glinow and Sharma, 2007). Case Study on teamwork This case study deals with Starbucks Corporation, which is leading retail chain of coffee shop. They mainly deal in special roasted coffee beans and various other types of tea and coffee drinks. There are almost 4000 branches spread all over the world. They are famous for good quality coffee, excellent customer service and cosy environment. The reason behind such huge success is the teamwork that the organization exhibits. Starbucks has a system that nurtures and builds good relationship among the managers and other employees. They are called as partners to eliminate the gap of bureaucracy. The number of members in a team is usually three to six, which helps the employees to know each other closely and deeply. Each employee has the right to provide any complain or suggestion and has the right to make changes in the policies. In this regards the employees feel that they play significant role in operating the company. Starbucks also contributes a significant amount of their profit towards public services as a result the employees have a very good idea about the society (Businessstudents, n.d.). Improvement of poor performance The performance of an employee depends upon two factors such as ability and motivation. In order to improve bad performance both the two factors need to be made strong. The ability of the employees can be improved by resupply, retrain, refit, reassign and release. On the other hand motivation can be enhanced by setting performance goals, providing performance assistance and rendering performance feedback (Mind Tools Ltd, 2013; Salvos, n.d.). Conclusion Belbin Team Role theory has identified nine team roles or behaviours that are relevant to leadership. Each team role has some specific weaknesses and strengths that make important contribution towards the team. The concept of team role was formulated based on the characteristic abilities and personalities that contribute towards the team. On the hand the Tuckman development model has provided the various steps of team development. In order to make the team work efficiently and achieve success the team leader should have one of these roles as well as the team should also go through all the stages of development. A team when works in a well co-ordinated manner then they produce results like Starbucks. Reference List Anonymous, n.d. Managing teams. Cambridge: Select Knowledge Limited. BELBIN Associates, 2012. Belbin Team Roles [online] Available at < http://www.belbin.com/rte.asp?id=8> [Accessed 27 July 2013]. Businessstudents, n.d. Starbucks Corporation: Case Study in Motivation and Teamwork [pdf] Available at < http://businessstudents.weebly.com/uploads/6/3/6/5/6365205/teamwork_case_study_-_starbucks.pdf> [Accessed 27 July 2013]. Hills, H., 2001. Team-Based learning. England: Gower Publishing, Ltd. Johnson, J., 2009. Health organizations: Theory, behaviour, and development. Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Keen, T.R., 2003. Creating effective and successful teams. Indiana: Purdue University Press. McShane, S.L., Glinow, M.A.V. and Sharma, R.R., 2007. Organizational behaviour. 4th ed. New Delhi: Tata McGraw-Hill Education. Mind Tools Ltd, 2013. Dealing with Poor Performance [online] Available at < http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMM_80.htm> [Accessed 27 July 2013]. Salvos, n.d. Tuckman’s Team Development Model [pdf] Available at < http://salvos.org.au/scribe/sites/2020/files/Resources/Transitions/HANDOUT_-_Tuckmans_Team_Development_Model.pdf> [Accessed 27 July 2013]. Utley, R., 2010. Theory and research for academic nurse educators: Application to practice. Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning. Read More