Teamworking

Groups can be formed anywhere, school, university or even work. Groups are formed of numbers of people all working to achieve a specific goal. "Another useful way of defining a group is a collection of people who share most, if not all, of the following characteristics:

• a definable membership
• group consciousness
• a sense of shared purpose
• interdependence
• interaction
• ability to act in a certain manner"

Mullins, j (2010)

As part of my business coursework at 6th form, in groups we had to organise a charity event for a charity of our choice and raise money for them. Together we had to decide what we were going to sell,how we would make or buy the product, how much we aimed to raise and where we would base our stall within the school.

We decided that we would bake cakes, brownies, cookies and sell soft drinks around break time and lunch time so that pupils in the school and 6th form could purchase items as they were not sold in the cafeteria.

As a group I would say that it was hard at first because of the different personalities within the group, everyone was very strong minded therefore their were ideas flying through the roof and lots of tension, on the other hand there were those that went with what was decided, but this lasted for moments and everybody found their roles and parts to play very quickly within the process. Belbins team roles realted to the group personalities very well, as the strong personalities and characteristics of each person was evident and roles were individually decided.

Belbin's team roles (1993) explains that there were those that played the role of a,

• Co-ordinater- plays supervisor role, helps team encourages etc
• Shaper- the strong minded, strong personality member of the group
• Plant- creative with lots of ideas and can solve problems within the group
• Team-worker- team motivation will help keep spirits high and prevent de motivation
• Implementer- Will get the work in hand completed
• Resource Investigator- will get information and will get the outside job completed
• Monitor-evaluator- Logical and analytical
• Completer-finisher- will finish what needs to be completed
• Specialist- Acts as the skill

Lecture notes week 13

Another theory that closely related to the team is Gersick, 1998 Equilibrium Model. This is because our flow of working and communicating with one another was very unsteady. It started off very strong we were having regular meetings after school, we would go to the town centre to buy resources etc. It then started to fluctuate where we would not meet so often, as there would be one or two people within the group that would not come or would be "busy" therefore the rest of the team would not continue without them.

We would then reach times in lessons where lack of time would hit us, then suddenly we were back on track, and this pattern continued towards the end where we worked extremely hard till the end.

Tuckman 1973, described his four stages of team development as,

• Forming- Testing
• Storming- Infighting
• Norming- Doing
• Performing- Identity

Lecture Notes week 13

In the first group assignment for People and Organisations, Tuckmans theory on group development in the group that I was in started off track. The initial forming stage where we were suppose to meet, get to know one another etc, did not happen. This stage did not come within the whole assignment time. Instead we jumped straight to the storming phase, as their were many problems and allot of tension within the group with certain team members including myself. We were even unfortunate enough to loose a group member as their was a huge lack of commitment.

Slowly and quite late within the process we moved onto the norming stage, whilst still stuck in the previous stage of storming. We were very off track in getting work delegated, holding meetings and completing what was needed on time, as group members were not in full communication. Very close to the end we were able to slowly pull ourselves out of the storming bubble and got the work completed, this is when we reached the performing stage.

As differences were put aside the work level progressed, work quality increased and was able to be completed and handed in on time. After the assignment was handed in, i reached the adjourning stage where I fully regretted the time way the group assignment ran, it could have been made more enjoyable and baring from the start for everyone if differences were put aside from the start but it was a moment of self reflection and a lesson to be learnt for when I next work in a group.

Team work not only helps in education but also the best companies operate with staff working together in teams to create the best possible work and revenue. In the times top 100 companies to work for, Nandos ranked at 1st place in 2010's 25 top places to work. The company has achieved the top overall positive scores for wellbeing at 70%, my manager at 76% and my team at 79%.

Nandos more chains opening in the future and are employing allot more staff, they are looking at 230 plus restaurant and around 6,300 staff. Which seems to be working well for them as staff have rated the employers 80% positive score, they agree that there is a strong sense of family in their teams (81%) and not only feel that managers care about them as individuals (79%), but say they also talk openly and honestly with them (82%), all top scores.

Nandos staff seem to be very happy within the organisation, Nandos claim to treat all staff equally and fairly and everyone is given equal chances. An example of this is, Paulo Santimano Sequeira who arrived in England and could not speak a word of English, but was employed by Nandos as a cleaner, and was gradually made an assistant manager.

Another company in the top 100 companies to work for is Beaver Brooks the jewellers. Ranked at 3rd place staff are happy with the company and their pay. Rating 75% positive score, the company is also said to be playing its part for the local community.

Staff benefits include, minimum of 25 days paid holiday, a return to work bonus for new mums, dental and life insurance. The company also do allot of charity work with 20% of pre tax profits donated to a local charity. Staff are said to be extremely happy and proud.

In conclusion we recognise that teamwork plays a very big part in everyday life and if people work together in the right way it can be very successful for themselves and an organisation.

"It is certainly true to say that any group of people who do not know they are a team cannot be one. To become a team, a group of individuals needs to have strong common purpose and to work towards that purpose rather than individually. They need also to believe that they will achieve more by co-operation than working individually".

Mullins, l (2010)

References

• Lecture notes week 13
• Mullins,l. (2010) Management and organisational behaviour. 9th ed. Essex: Pearsons