{"id":182,"date":"2018-02-22T21:06:50","date_gmt":"2018-02-23T02:06:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/obcourseweir\/?post_type=chapter&p=182"},"modified":"2018-06-28T14:57:05","modified_gmt":"2018-06-28T18:57:05","slug":"9-3-management-of-teams","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.bccampus.ca\/obcourseweir\/chapter\/9-3-management-of-teams\/","title":{"raw":"9.3 Management of Teams","rendered":"9.3 Management of Teams"},"content":{"raw":"
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Establishing Team Norms<\/h2>\r\n
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Team Norms<\/h2>\r\n

Norms<\/a><\/span> are shared expectations about how things operate within a group or team. Just as new employees learn to understand and share the assumptions, norms, and values that are part of an organization\u2019s culture, they also must learn the norms of their immediate team. This understanding helps teams be more cohesive and perform better. Norms are a powerful way of ensuring coordination within a team. For example, is it acceptable to be late to meetings? How prepared are you supposed to be at the meetings? Is it acceptable to criticize someone else\u2019s work? These norms are shaped early during the life of a team and affect whether the team is productive, cohesive, and successful.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Square Wheels Exercise and Group Discussion<\/h4>\r\n

Sometimes it can be challenging to start a conversation around team ground rules and performance. The following exercise can be used to get individuals talking about what works and what doesn\u2019t work in teams they\u2019ve worked in and how your team can be designed most effectively<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Figure 9.8<\/span><\/p>\r\n\"A<\/a>\r\n

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Michael Vroegop - a bike that can only run on special roads.<\/a> - CC BY 2.0.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

What is happening in this picture represents how many organizations seem to operate. On a piece of paper have everyone in your team write on this form and identify as many of the key issues and opportunities for improvement as you can. Following this, have a conversation around what this illustration might mean for your own team.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n

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Team Contracts<\/h2>\r\n

Scientific research, as well as experience working with thousands of teams, show that teams that are able to articulate and agree on established ground rules, goals, and roles and develop a team contract<\/a><\/span> around these standards are better equipped to face challenges that may arise within the team (Katzenback & Smith, 1993; Porter & Lilly, 1996). Having a team contract does not necessarily mean that the team will be successful, but it can serve as a road map when the team veers off course. The following questions can help to create a meaningful team contract:<\/p>\r\n\r\n