The real work of teams

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Jacobson, Ralph

Affiliations: Synthesis Consulting, Inc., 7801 East Bush Lake Road, Suite 360, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55439, USA

Abstract: Facilitators, leaders and trainers could use a framework to help employees comprehend the full range of responsibilities of being a member of a self-directed work team. This article describes a framework of five key team processes – plan, share, learn, administer, and produce – and defines the requirements for making each process successful. During the initial stages of a team's formation, it is critical that more time and attention be paid to the first four processes. As the members develop their team capabilities, they can devote more time to production. The article concludes with suggestions for implementing the five team processes.

Keywords: Team development, organization development, team leadership

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-1996-15107

Journal: Human Systems Management, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 71-78, 1996