Teams: More than Merely Individual Components
The definition of a team given in Webster's Dictionary is simply a group of persons organized to work together. The use of teams and teamwork can be found throughout society both in recreational and professional form. In the workplace, the use of teams provides more than just the collective effort of their individual components. This advantage of teamwork in the workplace can clearly be seen through greater performance, positive use of diversity, instilment of norms, the establishment of roles for team members, and employee job satisfaction. Even when work can be done individually, there is more to be gained from the team atmosphere.
The final product of a team effort can be much more impressive than that of individuals working towards the same goal. Thus, a greater level of performance can be reached from teamwork. Working as a team creates the possibility for individuals to generate and achieve goals unattainable through individuals efforts alone. This means that teams can attempt complex and difficult projects beyond their personal capabilities, making them highly valuable to a company. When individuals work together in a team environment where they are accountable for their actions, creativity and ingenuity are inspired that may otherwise absent. This is evident in the case of Skunkworks teams which assemble to work on complex problems or create new products. These teams often experience an unprecedented level of creativity and freedom under their working conditions, separate and undisturbed from the rest of the company. The unique effectiveness of Skunkworks is described by Robbins and Langton (2003), "This gives the t ...