A team is an organization of two or more individuals aimed at performing a particular activity. The tasks are shared amongst the team members or can be handled by all the individuals. A team-based approach does not work well for all companies because teams encourage bureaucracy by prioritizing opinions and decisions by managers. Zappos’ case study alludes that holacracy builds a sense of ownership and collective responsibility amongst employees, improving their productivity (Cable News Network (CNN), 2014). Moreover, this management model favors a uniform organizational structure where all employees are equal in decision-making and authority, therefore, boosting their morale and self-esteem. Additionally, a team-based approach could also be practical for companies as it encourages sharing knowledge and skills, resulting in better decisions (Black and Bright, 2019). Each team member offers a unique solution, which contributes immensely to the successful completion of tasks.
However, a team-based approach can be hindered by rivalry among team members. For example, differences may arise, resulting in negative attitudes and taking sides, which decreases the team’s productivity. Moreover, Black and Bright (2019) assert that competition for attention in larger teams leads to the domination of discussions by some individuals. Therefore, the results of the team fail to represent the views of all members. Similarly, a team-based approach is time-consuming because decisions are made at different levels and involve various stakeholders (Black and Bright, 2019). Managers should possess excellent team management skills to achieve organizational success.
Lastly, a team’s efforts determine its effectiveness in a business organization. Since none of the members is directly responsible for group actions, employees may limit their ability when working in collaboration. Furthermore, the diversity of teams in a multicultural setup poses communication problems due to challenges of fluency and accent. In this case, one language may dominate discussions, resulting in the fluent speakers viewing other team members as incompetent.
Reference List
Black, J. S. and Bright, D. S. (2019) Organizational behavior. Houston: OpenStax Publishers.
Cable News Network (CNN) (2014) How Zappos will run with no job titles.