Michael McMaster wrote:
>"Team" is not a particular organisation but a quality of working
>together or a phenomenon of relationship in my (operational)
>definition.
>
>"Organisation" includes the structure (or design principles) of the
>particular team. Clyde's example from Drucker of different "teams"
>for different sports is an example of different organisation rather
>than differences in "team", at least as I've defined it above.
To which, OrgPsych@aol.com replied, "What Michael is describing as "team"
is what is more appropriately called "teamwork." a team is, in fact, an
organization. It is impossible to separate the two. A team is an
organization built along specific lines to achieve a specific purpose.
Teamwork, on the other hand, transcends any organizational structure. It
can exist in groups of 2 or 3 and it can exist just as well in a group of
100. The latter, though, is not in any way a team ... it is simply too
large to function effectively as a team.
When most organizations start "teambuilding" efforts they have no clue
whatsoever what a team actually is or how to use such an organization.
What they are really after is building a level of teamwork. Once this is
done, teams may be formed on an ad hoc basis. To form a team and plan on
it existing and functioning for an extended (indefinite) period of time
means that what has really been formed is a high performing (hopefully)
work group. But it is not a team.
Teams have definite criteria inherent in the definition of a team.
*** End Quote ***
I guess from my perspective, if we could confidently replicate what is
referred to as high performing work group, we would be very happy. From
the point of view of getting things done, I do't understand the
distinction. From the point of view of replicating 'teamness', I also do
not uderstand the distinction. Therefore, I lean toward Michael's
operational distinction. Can someone clarify why this distinction is
important to replicating teams or creating high performance?
-- Rol Fessenden LL Bean, Inc 76234.3636@compuserve.com