About the Book

Grounded in psychological research but with a very practical focus on organizational behaviour issues, this book explains the basic psychological concepts of group dynamics with a focus on their application with teams in the workplace.

The book begins with an overview of how teams are being used in the workplace and the factors that relate to team success. It goes on to examine basic topics such as goals, norms, cooperation, and communication while reviewing the main challenges teams face, including conflict, decision making, problem solving, creativity, and valuing diversity. The final section analyzes the use of teams in the workplace, including the impact of organizational culture, technological support for teams, differences among types of work teams, team building, and team evaluation and reward.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments Introduction PART I: CHARACTERISTICS OF TEAMS Chapter 1 - Understanding Teams Learning Objectives 1.1 Defining Groups and Teams 1.2 Purposes and Types of Teams 1.3 Why Organizations Are Using Teams 1.4 History of Teams and Group Dynamics Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 1 Activity: Groups Versus Teams Chapter 2 - Defining Team Success Learning Objectives 2.1 Nature of Team Success 2.2 Conditions for Team Success 2.3 Characteristics of Successful Teams 2.4 Using Teams in the Workplace Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 2 Activity: Understanting Team Success PART II: PROCESSES OF TEAMWORK Chapter 3 - Team Beginnings Learning Objectives 3.1 Stages of Teamwork 3.2 Group Socialization 3.3 Team Goals 3.4 Group Norms 3.5 Application: Jump-Starting Project Teams Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 3 Survey: Attitudes Toward Teamwork Activity: Observing Team Norms Chapter 4 - Understanding the Basic Team Processes Learning Objectives 4.1 Motivation 4.2 Group Cohesion 4.3 Team Roles 4.4 Task and Social Behaviors 4.5 Team Adaptation and Learning Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 4 Activity: Observing Task and Social Behaviors Chapter 5 - Cooperation and Competition Learning Objectives 5.1 Teamwork as a Mixed-Motive Situation 5.2 Why Are People in Teams Competitive? 5.3 Problems With Competition 5.4 Benefits of and Problems With Cooperation 5.5 Application: Encouraging Cooperation Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 5 Survey: Cooperative, Competitive, or Individualistic Orientation Activity: Understanding Competitive Versus Cooperative Goals Chapter 6 - Communication Learning Objectives 6.1 Communication Process 6.2 Flow of a Team′s Communications 6.3 Building Trust 6.4 Facilitating Team Meetings 6.5 Communication Skills for Team Meetings Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 6 Activity: Observing Communication Patterns in a Team PART III: ISSUES TEAMS FACE Chapter 7 - Managing Conflict Learning Objectives 7.1 Conflict Is Normal 7.2 Sources of Conflict 7.3 Impact of Conflict 7.4 Conflict Resolution Approaches 7.5 Negotiation, Mediation, and Arbitration 7.6 Managing Team Conflicts Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 7 Survey: Conflict Resolution Styles Activity: Observing Conflict Resolution Styles Chapter 8 - Power and Social Influence Learning Objectives 8.1 Definitions of Power and Social Influence 8.2 Types of Power 8.3 Power Dynamics 8.4 Empowerment 8.5 Application: Acting Assertively Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 8 Activity: Using Power Styles - Passive, Aggressive, and Assertive Chapter 9 - Decision Making Learning Objectives 9.1 Value of Group Decision Making 9.2 Approaches to Group Decision Making 9.3 Decision-Making Problems 9.4 Decision-Making Techniques 9.5 Application: Consensus Decision Making Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 9 Activity: Consensus Decision Making Chapter 10 - Leadership Learning Objectives 10.1 Alternative Designs of Leadership for Teams 10.2 Approaches to Leadership 10.3 Situational Leadership Theory 10.4 Self-Managing Teams 10.5 Application: The Functional Approach to Leading Teams Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 10 Survey: Leadership Styles Activity: Observing the Leader′s Behavior Chapter 11 - Problem Solving Learning Objectives 11.1 Approaches to Prolem Solving 11.2 Descriptive Approach: How Groups Solve Problems 11.3 Functional Approach: Advice on Improving Group Problem Solving 11.4 Prescriptive Approach: Rational Problem-Solving Model 11.5 Problem-Solving Teams 11.6 Application: Problem-Solving Techniques for Teams Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 11 Activity: Using Problem-Solving Techniques Chapter 12 - Creativity Learning Objectives 12.1 Creativity and Its Characteristics 12.2 Individual Creativity 12.3 Group Creativity 12.4 Organizational Environment and Creativity 12.5 Application: Group Creativity Techniques Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 12 Activity: Comparing Different Creativity Techniques Chapter 13 - Diversity Learning Objectives 13.1 The Nature of Diversity 13.2 Causes of Diversity Problems 13.3 Problem of Diversity 13.4 Effects of Diversity 13.5 Application: Managing Diversity Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 13 Survey: Attitudes Toward Diversity Activity: Understanding Gender and Status Differences in a Team PART IV: ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT OF TEAMS Chapter 14 - Team and Organizational Culture Learning Objectives 14.1 Team Culture 14.2 Defining Organizational Culture 14.3 Dimensions of Organizational Culture 14.4 Organizational Culture and Teamwork 14.5 Transnational Teams Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 14 Survey: Individualism-Collectivism Activity: Evaluating a Team′s Culture Chapter 15 - Virtual Teams Learning Objectives 15.1 Use of Communication Technologies 15.2 Communication Impacts 15.3 Team Impacts 15.4 Selecting the Right Technology 15.5 Challenge of Virtual Teams Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 15 Activity: Developing Netiquette for Virtual Teams Chapter 16 - Evaluating and Rewarding Teams Learning Objectives 16.1 Team Performance Evaluations 16.2 Reward Systems 16.3 Rewarding Individual Team Members 16.4 Team and Organizational Reward Programs 16.5 Relationship of Rewards to Types of Teams Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 16 Survey: Individual Versus Team Rewards Activity: Evaluating and Rewarding a Project Team Chapter 17 - Team-Building and Team Training Learning Objectives 17.1 What is Team-Building? 17.2 Does Your Team Need Team-Building? 17.3 Types of Team-Building Programs 17.4 Team Training 17.5 Types of Training Summary Team Leader′s Challenge 17 Activity: Team Building Activity: Appreciative Inquiry of Teamwork Appendix: Guide to Student Team Projects A.1 Starting the Team A.2 Planning and Developing the Project A.3 Monitoring the Project and Maintaining Teamwork A.4 Performing Group Writing A.5 Wrapping Up and Completing the Project References Index About the Author