Team Dynamics and Conflict Resolutions

Team Dynamics and Conflict Resolutions

Beth Lipp

Abstract

The following paper will follow the steps to create a successful team. It is based on several key factors: the development cycle of a team, the structure of a team, team dynamics and conflict resolution strategies.

Team Dynamics

Team dynamics has been a key role to many successful companies. Depending on what the final product is planned to be or the final goal is how each team will be derived or established.

What is a Team?

Teams are made up of two or more people who interact and collaborate with each other. The team is equally responsible and accountable for achieving the common objectives and actually find themselves as a separate entity within an organization or company. Teams only exist to fulfill some purpose and are held together by interdependence and the need for association to achieve common goals. One of the biggest keys to success is communication to coordinate activities with in the team.

Functionality of a Team

All team members gather their thoughts to come together with a combined desire to produce the most reliable and productive result. To meet this goal all team members have to participate equally in group activities such as brain storming, researching, compiling and presentation of the final product.

Team members must have an equal share of the groups' success. To achieve this goal each person must trust one another to know that the others will participate actively with equal time and energy. Everyone must understand that constructive criticism is a key aspect to continued forward progress. Members must be able to communicate their thoughts in a clear concise manner so everyone is able to understand exactly what the point is trying to be made. This entails a measurement of trust to be sought through all members of being able to understand that everyone has an equal voice to the decisions and thought processes on an overall achievement of their goal.

A general rule of thumb is that a leader can be effective but a dominant leader is counter-productive in a team concept. An over-bearing leader can become counter productive. This may bring the self-esteem of other members down in turn bringing the idea process to a screeching halt. Each person within the team must have an equal and fair share in group activities.

Stages of Team Development

Teams may be formed or selected by someone in a leadership position. These teams may be picked for a person's skill set, or availability.

"In 1965, Bruce Tuckman developed a simple four-stage model of team development that has become an accepted part of thinking about how teams develop. In his article, Ð''Developmental Sequence in Small Groups,' Tuckman outlines four stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, and performing. A successful team knows which stage they are in, and manages transitions between the different stages adeptly." (Team Process)

The first stage known as the forming stage the team is getting to know one another, hopefully beginning to build a bond. Individuals may ask themselves questions such as: What are we suppose to do? How do we accomplish our goal? Will everyone on the team do their job and more? The individual group members should begin to see themselves as a team with a common goal. (Church, 2005)

The second stage, storming "is characterized by interpersonal conflict and more structured organizationÐ'... conflicts may or may not surface as group issues, they do exist." Some of the problems that may occur are power struggles, unable to communicate clearly or the fear to communicate or feelings may get hurt. If at anytime a member feels rejected, they will shut down and not communicate their ideas and thoughts. (Church, 2005)

When these conflicts occur, and if handled properly, may build a stronger team. Members "often emerge from conflict with a new and unfamiliar perspective on a problem or an increased understanding and appreciation of the other members of the group." (Church, 2005)

The third stage is the norming stage. "Group members have taken on official or unofficial roles and are comfortable sharing ideas and feelings while giving and receiving feedback. It is during this stage of development that people begin to experience a sense of belonging. Their interactions are characterized by openness and sharing of information on both a personal and task level." (Church, 2005)

The fourth stage is the performing stage. "The performing stage is not always reached. This stage requires true interdependence. Team members can work independently, in small groups, or as unit with equal facility. Their roles and authorities dynamically adjust to the changing needs of the group. By now the group should be most productive. There is unity, group identity is complete, and group morale is high. There is genuine problem solving, leading toward optimal solutions and group development. There is support for experimentation in solving problems." (Church, 2005)

In 1975, Bruce Tuckman added a fifth stage; this stage is called the adjourning stage. Although this stage is not related to the task at hand but is actually concerning the team members and the break up of the team. "If a team member leaves, and a new member joins, the team usually goes back to the forming stage." (Bookman, 1998)

Team Structure

A team is a group of people working together to complete a goal, whether the goal is to win a game or to come up with the next big marketing strategy. The structure of the team is important to look at to see how teams can work together to be successful no matter what the goal is.

The reason a team is formed is to work on a project for their company or for academic reasons. This project could be for a wide variety of goals. The project could be to put together a presentation for school or to put a report together at work that will compare one product to another. The project is going to take teamwork dong research and forming opinions on that research to come up with the best strategy to get the best grade or to help the company make strives forward to be the best.

When accomplishing goals to produce a successful project, there will be a number of items that the team will have to address to be successful in accomplishing the goals. There will be many different personalities within the group and if these personalities