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Calling A Team A Team Doesn't Mean That It Is: Successful Teamwork Must Be A Way Of Life.

Abstract:

Teambuilding is an important aspect of management that promote better communication between management and its employees. The teambuilding process requires commitment from management and the cooperation of workers. It should be geared towards a common goal and should empower the people involved to make their own decisions. It should prepare people to accept change and focus on continuous improvement of products and services. It should also encourage encourage flexibility, innovation and creativity both in management and staff.

Full Text :COPYRIGHT Reed Publishing USA 1995

Teambuilding has become a popular concept over the last few years, and many companies have jumped on the teambuilding bandwagon. In many organizations, the scenario is all too familiar: the company president or a member of top management issues a memo to all department heads that says, "We have decided to form teams here and every department is required to have teams in place within the next three months. We wish you success."

Next, banners bearing a popular teambuilding slogan are printed and placed strategically around the office and plant. All employees are given buttons that say, "We're a team and proud of it."

All the fanfare looks good, but as Shakespeare said, "It's much ado about nothing." The scene described above is a promotional campaign. Someone in the marketing department thinks of a fancy slogan and a lot of time is spent trying to justify the team-building concept. Although nothing is wrong with promoting a team, two essential components are missing from our picture: sincerity and an understanding of what comprises a real team.

For a teambuilding effort to work in the long run, management must be sincere in its resolve to see the teambuilding process through. Teams are not built overnight. The "hurry up and get it done" approach does not work. Nor does a demand to have teams "up and running in three months" or any other restricted time frame.

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