Developing Effective Teams within Organizations - Apple Inc. Case Study

This presentation explores the mechanism through which effective teams can be developed within organizations using Apple Inc. as a case study. It covers the nature of groups, factors promoting and inhibiting effective teamwork, impact of technology on team functioning, and more.

Organization and Behavior
Task 2

Introduction
This presentation is prepared for the purpose of gaining deep insight of
the mechanism through which effective team can be developed within
organization. To conduct the same, Apple Inc. has been selected as a
company which is a prominent company in the sector of smartphone,
tabs and laptops. In this regard, presentation is made on nature of
groups & group behavior, factors promoting and inhibiting effective
team work and impact of technology on the operation of organization.

4.1 Nature of Groups
Apple being a multinational company possess variety of groups that
aids them in executing the work in an effectual manner. In this context,
following are the groups in the company:
1.Formal Group: These are some of the groups in company which have
been created in order to do some special tasks in company. In this,
formal interaction is done between team members and same is done
with the help of presentation, emails etc.
2.Informal Group: These groups are developed by the employees of
Apple itself. This involves friendly gathering in café, restaurant or
pantry.
3.Primary Group: In this groups, small number of members are there
but they do interaction on regular basis so that better results can be
attained in terms of decision and team output.
4.Secondary Groups: These types of groups are formed when people
from different department of Apple get together. This aids in

Formation of groups
Forming: At this stage, team is formed at Apple
for any specific project
Storming: This phase includes discussion
between team member so that they can know
each other in well.
Norming: After knowing each other, strategy is
made by the team members so that they can
attain the key aims in allotted time and budget.
Here, interaction and coordination between
members gets increased.
Performing: At this stage, actual work is being
carried out by the members.

Purpose of Teams
A team in organization provides the framework which increases the
capebility of employees to involve themselves in planning, problem
solving and decision making process.
A team can be formed by considering following factors,
 A team is formed to complete a specific taskwhich is critical to
complete individualy.
 By selecting effective team the firm can improve the efficiency of
project and the result as well.
 Selecting a team member required a methodical approach.

Team Roles
The nine team roles are detailed below as per Belbin's theory: These are
as follows,
 Plant: It needs to be highly creative and good in problem solving in
irregular situations.
 Resource Investigator: Resource investigator provides in depth
knowledge on the opposition and make sure that team's idea will be
considered in outside world.
 Coordinator: The coordinator of team need to follow the team's
goals and objectives.
 Shaper: The shaper in the team provides the necessary actions to
make sure that team keep moving and do not lose focus.

Continued..
 Monitor evaluator: Monitor evaluator in team provides a logical
eye ans make impartial judgments for teams performance.
 Team worker: These are essential parts to bound the team by using
their versatility to identify the work needed.
 Implementer: These are responsible for for planning workable
strategy and carry out effectively as possible.
 Complete Finisher: These are the most efficiently used at the
completion of tasks to polish and scrutinize the work for quality.
 Specialist: Specialist in team are responsible for bringing in depth
knowledge of key area.

Team Identity
 Team is identified by unity.
 When a effective team is identified., Team members give the priority to
teams need rather then individual needs.
 Team is identified by its cognitive, emotional and behavioral alignment
Building Team Loyalty
 Team loyalty can be built upon in Apple by encouraging team members
and free discussions in teams.
 Motivating and recognizing individual team members performance also
develop e loyalty.

4.2 Factors Promoting
Effective Teamwork
Diversity: Diversity is considered very significance for firm as it
supports people to learn from each other. It enhances the creativity and
coordination within business unit.
Communication: In an organization, If good communication is present
than it certainly helps member to understand each other in an effectual
way. Also, it aids in reducing all negativity and increase the positivity.
Leadership: If company has good leader then it aids in increasing the
performance of employees which is very crucial in organization like
Apple. If the leader is good then employees will be motivated in more
positive manner as compared to the bad leader.

Factors Inhibiting Teamwork
Lack of training: If proper training is not imparted on regular basis, the
it certainly results into poor efficiency of teamwork.
Rivalry/dispute : If there is dispute among team member then it
certainly affect the working of both and hence makes differences in
team work as well.
Poor management of Diversity: In case, cultural diversity is not
managed at the workplace then it could results into poor teamwork.
Motivation: It is required that motivation must be present within team
as in absence of it, work culture gets affected.

Team Dynamics
Team dynamics are the physcological forces whicjh influence the
direction of a team's performance and behavior.
Group decision making behavior: The decision making in group
involves collaborative participation. The decisions made in the
group are different form individual.
Cohesiveness: Cohesiveness in group is also called as social
cohesion connection. Teams develope a link in members of social
group in this cohesiveness.

Dysfunctional team
The reasons for dysfunctional teams are as follows,
Lack of commitment
Lack of trust between team members.
Fear of conflict
Avoidance of accountability.

4.3 Impact of Technology on
Team Functioning
Technology aids employees of Apple in working in an effectual
manner and it also aids in attaining business objectives in timely way.
Following are the benefits of technology
1.Virtual company: With technology, Apple is developed as Virtual
organization in which employees can work from other places as well.
2.Fluent Communication: It has also supported in doing effectual
communication from which decisions are taken in an effective manner.
3.Completion of work on time: Through technology, employees are
able to complete their work relatively faster.

Impact of technology on team functioning:
 Communication: Through the technological development teams
can communicate effectively. Technology has provided them
improved ways to communicate at long distance in short time.
Such as, telecommunications and video conferencing.
 Change: Technology has changed the functioning of whole team
and enabled the team to work effectively and efficiently.
 Network and virtual teams: Technology has helped in developing
virtual teams in different geographical areas. Now teams can be
monoitored at any locations through these technological
developments.

Conclusion
Based on this presentation, it can be state that there are certain factors
that aids in developing sound team. These are as follows:
Communication
Leadership
Motivation
Co-ordination
Proper management of diversity
Technology and other related

References
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