Team reflection
Introduction
Teamwork process is defined as the interpersonal activities, which helps the team to accomplish the set goals but they are not directly related to the task. In a group, team members operate as a unit with the objective of accomplishing, which is almost impossible for an individual to work alone. A study conducted by…indicated that teamwork helps in creating the highest output with higher effectiveness and efficiency at a faster rate. Generally, the team processes help the organization to remain competitive and achieve its set goals. This paper seeks to provide a critical analysis of the team process/threats to effective teamwork that affects the Fletcher Building company.
Threats
Even though teamwork leads to increased overall performance, if not well managed, the team can easily fail to meets its objective. Some threats affecting teamwork effectiveness include Social Loafing and team conflicts.
Team Conflicts
A study conducted by Contu (2012) defined team conflict as negative energy existing between members of certain groups, therefore, affecting their overall output. In most case, team conflicts are attached to positive and negative impacts on the overall performance of the team. The positive important is only recognized only when the team manages to solve the problem. Team conflicts pose threats in workplaces since it leads to work disruptions, lowered productivity, increased turnover, as well as emotional stress. These impacts of team conflict lead to unrest within the team productivity, therefore, lowing the overall performance.
Social Loafing
Social loafing is a common phenomenon in several teams as it includes “joyriding” thus leading to overall poor performance. In most cases, social loafing results from assigning collective tasks to different members of the team. A study conducted by Bennis (2007) stated that individual performance is hidden in teamwork; therefore, it could be difficult to determine individual contribution. The collective task reduces members efforts in contribution until they no longer interested, thus leading to low motivation.
Fletcher Building company
Fletcher building company is considered as one of the largest companies within the New Zealand market, which has been significant in manufacturing and partnering on major infrastructure and construction projects. In reality, the company demonstrate how the teamwork operates as it involves individuals with different skills and profession which operate to achieve a common goal. Generally, the whole team operate towards an objective of making the company remain competitive in the market while increasing its profitability. Despite its smooth operation, the company has faced several teamwork threats, thus have once affected the overall performance.
Team conflicts impacts
In most cases, the team conflicts result from a misunderstanding between the members within a group. For instance, the Fletcher Building company workers declared a strike against the giant company for better payment. This indicates that the company’s management and the workers never agreed on the fair pay, therefore, leading to a misunderstanding which later resulted in conflicts. The strike paralyzes the company operation, therefore, lowering the overall output and performance.
Impacts of Social loafing
In Fletcher Building company, social loafing makes the company employees remain reluctant to put the same effort into a different task. For instance, when lazy employee tends to exert less effort in the scenario whereby the production has gone low. In most case, those employees always pretend to be involved.
Recommendations
From the above discussion, I recommend the following;
- In improving the teamwork motivation, Fletcher Building company needs to set involving, challenging, and interesting tasks with clear description to avoid job conflicts.
- Encourage independence among the team, thus curbing social loafing and motivating members to complete the task individually but within the group.
- Set team building programs, evaluation procedures and rewards programs to motivate team teams and promote team cohesion. Other procedure includes the company’s code of conduct.
References
Bennis, W. (2007). The challenges of leadership in the modern world: Introduction to the special issue. American psychologist, 62(1), 2.
Contu, A. (2012). Groups and teams at work. In D. Knights & H. Willmott (Eds.). Introducing organizational behaviour and management (2nd ed.) (pp. 116-158). United Kingdom: Cengage Learning
Levi, D. (2014). Group dynamics for TEAMS (4th ed.) (pp. 61-79). SAGE Publications.