Teamwork

Question 1

what is the definition of teamwork

Answer 1

Teamwork is a group of people working in collaboration or by co-operation towards a common goal.

Question 2

what is a key differentiating attribute of a team

Answer 2

project teams are normally transient and will disband on completion of the project

Question 3

what is a working group

Answer 3

it is a hybrid between a team and a group where work is allocated to individuals who work alone and the leader does the co-ordinating

Question 4

what are 10 characteristics of effective teams

Answer 4

1. they have a good leader
2. there is a good blend of skills and personalities
3. team motivation and moral is high
4. team works together and everyone participates actively and positively in meetings and activities
5. everyone knows their own role in the team
6. team goals are given realistic timeframes
7. everyone is focused on the ultimate project goal
8. team goals are understood by everyone
9. everyone is supportive of the project and others
10. there is trust between the team members

Question 5

what are the 8 belbin team roles

Answer 5

COMPLETERS

1. monitor evaluator - sober, strategic - may lack drive, be critical - can be cynical and illogical
2. completer / finisher - conscientious - may worry - can’t be obsessive

CREATORS

3. plant - creative, unorthodox - may ignore details - ownership vs cooperation
4. resource investigator - develops contacts - may be overoptimistic - can’t let clients down

LEADERS

5. coordinator - mature, confident - may be manipulative, lazy - can’t take credit for team work
6. shaper - challenging, full of drive - may provoke others - can’t be non-apologetic or lack humour

IMPLEMENTER

7. team worker - cooperative, diplomatic - may be indecisive - can’t avoid pressure situations
8. implementer - disciplined, reliable - may be inflexible - can’t obstruct change

Specialist - rare knowledge - may overlook big picture - can’t ignore important info

Question 6

what are 4 symptoms of a poor performing team

Answer 6

1. frustration
2. unhealthy conflict
3. unproductive meetings
4. lack of trust in PM

Question 7

what are 5 results of good team building

Answer 7

1. members ready to work to a common goal
2. there is team loyalty and identification
3. members willing to work hard for the good of the team
4. willing to sacrifice personal interests for the good of the team
5. team morale is high

Question 8

what are the 4 stages of team development and associated traits

Answer 8

Forming
- hesitancy , confusion, anxiety, lack of purpose, no team identity

Storming

• leadership challenge
• opinions polarise
• sub-group conflict
• cliques form
• competition

Norming

• open communication
• well defined purpose
• high confidence levels
• people are motivated
• creative

Performing

• team pride
• flexible & efficient
• collaboration & trust
• shared responsibility
• confidence high

Question 9

what are the 10 steps to team building

Answer 9

• hold a kick off meeting
• make sure all contribute and buy in to project plan
• make sure all know what’s expected of them
• understand, support and coach each individual
• hold regular team building events
• praise in public, reprimand in private
• provide motivation, reward and recognition
• provide for skills development
• shield team from outside interference
• celebrate successes and commiserate setbacks as a team

Question 10

what are 11 team dynamic issues

Answer 10

1. Ensuring arguments are constructive (as opposed to destructive)
2. Embracing differing cultures, outlooks, priorities, and interests of team members
3. Recognising that teams may form and re-form multiple times
4. Roles need clarification to avoid conflicts
5. The Team Leader needs to be credible
6. There will usually be competition over team leadership
7. Some team members may lack commitment
8. Senior management need to provide active support
9. The team will need definition and structure
10. There is only a limited amount of available team energy
11. Avoidance of ‘Groupthink’