An Introduction to

Teamwork
Authored by Andrea White, PhD and
Valerie West, EdD for the C3 Initiative
Adapted by Judith Kizzie, PhD

Two or more individuals

What
is
a
Team?
with a high degree of
interdependence geared
toward the achievement
of a goal or the
completion of a task.
Teams make decisions,

solve problems, provide

support, accomplish
missions, and plan their
work.

How is a Team Different from a

Group or Committee?
Teams embody a collective action arising out of

task interdependency

Members of the team agree on the goal

Members agree that they must work together to

achieve the goal

Each member is viewed as having one or more

important roles to play to successfully achieve

the goal

There is less hierarchy within the unit than in

most work groups

Why is Teamwork Important in

Business?
Todays employers expect their employees to have

teamwork skills, as much of the current workplace

uses teams to get work done. Learning these skills
increases job hunting success.
Promoting teamwork and good communication

among business professionals can dramatically

improve effective product delivery. This results in
much better outcomes for customers, which in turn
increases overall business success and profits.

Understanding
group behavior
Since teams are a specific type of group, its helpful

to understand a bit of overall group dynamics

Group Content - what is being said, the words, the

discussion
Group Process - how the group works, methods,

ways of making decisions, how people participate

Aspects of Group Process:

Communication
Who talks to whom?
Who interrupts and how is it handled?
How are quiet members treated?
High and low participators? Shifts in

participation levels?
Do people look at each other when they talk?
How are new members treated?

Aspects of Group Process:

Decision-making
What process does the group use to make

decisions?
Is the process agreed upon by everyone?
Does the process change as group proceeds?
Does anyone make a decision and carry it out
without agreement from the others?
Is there evidence of a majority pushing a decision
Are minority opinions heard?

Aspects of Group Process:

Problem-solving
Does the group take time to understand the

problem?
Is the problem well articulated?
Is there time for brainstorming creative
solutions?
Can the group move to from problem
identification, identifying possible solutions, to
selecting solutions and implementation?

Recognizing Negative Behavior

Blocking
Aggression
Dominating
Withdrawing

Attitudes for Effective Teamwork

Appreciation for value of team decisions
Respect for team members
Mutual trust
Openness to feedback
Reflection on group process and interest in

improving
Shared vision

What are Characteristics of Effective

Teams?
Members have a clear goal
The focus is on achieving results
There is a plan for achieving the goal
Members have clear roles
Members are committed to the goal
Members are competent
They achieve decisions through consensus
There is diversity among team members
Members have effective interpersonal skills
They know each other well and have good relationships

Effective Team-Building Takes Time

There must be

frequent and
prolonged contact
Team members come

together around a
specific goal or project
Effective teams go

through four stages of

team development

What are the Four Stages of Team

Development?
Forming
Storming
Norming
Performing
Every effective team

goes through these

life cycle stages

Forming
Team members are

introduced and begin

getting to know each
other
Goals and tasks are
established
Generally polite
behavior among
members
Norms are not
understood

Storming
Members are sizing

each other up and may

feel more comfortable
and voice their views
Members may compete
for team roles
May argue about goals
or how they should be
accomplished
May choose sides
against other members

Norming
Once issues are

resolved, agreement
occurs around team
norms and
expectations
Trust and common

interests are
developing
Roles and objectives

are clarified and

understood

Performing
Members make

contributions and are

motivated by results
Leadership is shared
according to members
knowledge and skills
Norms and culture are
well understood
Tasks get accomplished
effectively and efficiently

References
Thiagarajan, S. and Parker, G. (1999). Teamwork and Teamplay. San

Francisco: Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer.
Dean, P., LaVallee, R., & McLaughlin, C. (1999). Teams at the core of

continuous learning in McLaughlin, & Kaluzny, A. (eds.) Continuous Quality

Improvement in Health Care: Theory, Implementation, and Applications, 147
168.