PROBLEM TEAMS

TEAMS as opposed to individuals, have the potential to bring together the skills, experiences and disciplines required in these changing times.  However, certain difficulties is faced by today's teams.

NO ROLE MODELS
Without role models, there is nobody to follow.  Often, those at the top will talk about teams, without really being able to promote the conditions for teamworking within the organizations.

NO PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT
Effective teams need a demanding performance challenge that is meaningful to all those involved.  Teams need to deliver results- otherwise why have them?  Without such challenge, where does a team start to get itself organized and how is success measured?

TOO MANY TEAMS
Teams are not the solution to all situations.  Teams are only needed when you have real problems to tackle - to which no individual can handle alone.

EMPHASIS ON INDIVIDUALS
Most organization requires individuals and not teams.  Teams are set up as a unit of performance and recognized as such however, most appraisal schemes are geared to individual contributions.

CULTURE OF COMPETITION
Teamworking is about encouraging co-operation; this will be impossible to achieve if your: (1) structure encourages internal competition and (2) organization is not built on trust.

TOO MANY PEOPLE
The larger the team, the more difficult they are to communicate with and control; the greater the danger that sub-groups will form, increasing the potential for conflict.  Size does matter.