Types of TeamsWithin Department Vs. Multiple DepartmentsImprovement TeamsQuality CirclesProcess Improvement TeamsCross Functional TeamsPermanent Vs. Ad hocProject Teams/Task ForcesNatural Work TeamSupervisionSelf-Directed Teams

Team CompositionSelecting Team MembersPitfall: whoever is availableAdding New Team MembersDont impose new team memberInvolve team in selection processGet teams input on needed skillsRemoving Team MembersHandle delicatelyTeam SizeTeam Diversity

Team Developmental StagesFormingUnclear expectationsSuperficial interactionsStormingConflict (authority, vision, personality)Conflict can be healthy or unhealthyNormingGroup cohesion developsNorms and routines developedMay use team building activities

Team Developmental Stages continuedPerformingRelationships and structure establishedConsensus on purposeChallenge addressedAdjourningTeam disbands

Six Sigma RolesBlack BeltsMaster Black BeltsGreen BeltsExecutive SponsorsChampionsProcess OwnersSteering Committee

General Team RolesLeader (product)Facilitator (process)Team MemberRecorder/SecretaryTimekeeper

Nominal Group TechniqueTeam AssembledProblem PresentedGenerate ideas independently for 5 to 10 minutesIdeas shared and recorded sequentiallyNo discussionIdeas clarified, evaluated, extendedVotingMay be multiple rounds of voting

MultivotingGenerate and number list of ideasCombine similar ideasHave each member choose some number of ideas 1/3 of ideasTally votesEliminate ideas receiving small number of votes

BrainstormingBrainstorming is among most, if not the most, widely used techniques in business to stimulate and foster creativityDeveloped tocapitalize on synergistic effect of teamsLimit tendency to prematurely evaluate ideas as they are being generated

Brainstorming GuidelinesDo not criticize ideas during the brainstorming sessionExpress all ideas no matter how radical, bizarre, unconventional, ridiculous or impractical they may seemGenerate as many ideas as possibleCombine, extend, and/or improve on one anothers ideasEncourage everyone to participateRecord all ideas

Research Questions EffectivenessOne study compared quantity and quality of ideas generated by people working in teams and individuallyTeams generated an average of 28 ideasSame number of people working individually generated an average of 74.5 ideasOnly 8.9% of ideas generated by teams were evaluated as good ideas by panel of experts12.7% of ideas generated by people working independently were evaluated as good ideas

Threats to Team CreativitySocial LoafingConformityProduction BlockingDownward Norm Setting

Methods to Enhance Team CreativityCreate Diversified TeamsUse Analogical ReasoningUse BrainwritingUse the NGTNominal Group TechniqueRecord Team IdeasUse Trained FacilitatorsSet High StandardsChange Team CompositionUse Electronic BrainstormingMake the Workplace a Playground

Idealized Design

Idealized DesignTraditionally think in terms of correcting problemsAlternative approach is to think in terms ideal or ultimate work systemOnly constraint that should be considered is what is technologically feasibleDont consider economic, legal, political, or social constraints

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