Importance of Teamwork and Collaboration in Academic and Work Environments

This report discusses the importance of teamwork and collaboration in academic and work environments. It explores theories related to teamwork, current methods of team working, and issues encountered while working in a team.

Teamwork

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................3
RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS................................................................................................3
Relevance of team work or collaboration in academic and work environments...................3
Theories related to team work................................................................................................3
Current methods of team working and software/ apps supporting collaboration..................4
Issues encountered while working in a team..........................................................................5
CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES...........................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Teamwork accounts for the collaborative efforts which is being put by the group
with the objective of accomplishing the common goal effectively and efficiently. The most
basic need for an effective team is an adequate size of the team. This report is on the topic
group project which states about the best approaches to be used while implementing the
group project. This involves research into the topic through the use of theories in respect to
the teamwork.
RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS
Relevance of team work or collaboration in academic and work environments
Collaborative task mainly refers to the cooperative process which allows the people
to meet with the desired goals. Collaborative task in the working environment can help lift
each colleague within a team to a higher level. In the event that one feels stuck sooner or
later, asking a partner for their info can assist in finishing a venture or a project effectively.
On the off chance that the group is battling with problem of communication, requesting help
might be a nervousness inducing experience. At the point when trust issues are left uncertain,
it can stunt each individual in that group and keep everybody from pushing ahead (Sanyal
and Hisam, 2018). There are various reason which makes collaboration the most important
thing like the collaboration generates a circle in respect to the knowledge which allows each
of the team member to effectively understand their roles. There are smart owners which are
continuously looking for the encouraging and motivating their staff to work together with
each other. This results into making them learn from each other. This also helps in bringing in
opportunities to learn from each other’s successes and failures which results into having their
own approach in the direction of learning new things (Power, 2018). This assist into ensuring
that the group will not deviate from eth set goals and objectives irrespective of whether it is
for long term or short term. It brings in problem solving attitude as workplace collaboration
means bringing in variety of minds and skills together for accomplishing the desired gaols.
As when more of the competent people joins together, it leads to undergo better problem
solving approach.
Theories related to team work
There are number of theories in relation to the teamwork but in this report, most
renowned theory called the Tuckman’s theory of team is being evaluated. This theory was
created in 1965 and is applicable to the number of organizational scenarios. It recognises that
the fact that the team does not start off fully after being formed and it suggests that the team

grows by a defined stages. The theory is divided into four stages and the initial stage is
forming stage in which the team has just being formed and everyone is busy in finding their
place. The second stage is storming in which people starts to see themselves as a part of the
team. However, under this stage they might challenge each other pertaining to how things
should be done. Teer are also chances of getting into conflict in case of difference in the
opinion. This might result into loss of the performance or the focus over the task
(Pfutzenreuter, de Lima and Frega, 2020). The third stage is the norming, in this stage, the
team members get started to know each other, comes together developing processes and rules
along with clarifying who does what and how the things will be achieved. This stage is
represented with the phase of “togetherness”. The last stage is the performing stage where
there is an increase in the focus on both the tasks and the establishing a team relation. And
thus, in combination provides synergy. The performance is delivered through the way of
people working effectively together. This results into working together with the common
organizational objectives in the mind which results into accomplishing the desired goals.
Therefore, this model clearly explain how team is created and through them objective is
achieved.
Current methods of team working and software/ apps supporting collaboration
Currently, the teams are working in a conventional way and few of the business
organizations have established and implemented the new technology with the aim of
enhancing the performance of the team. Currently, the most common techniques or
approaches which is being utilized by the business organization in order to ensure effective
team work is by the way of establishing the team rules which helps in providing eth team
members all the relevant information pertaining to the team and how the team should be lead.
But there are times when there is requirement to implement changes in the same if these rules
instead of helping the team was hindering the team spirit (Rosen and et.al., 2018). Another
method is by the way of recognizing the employees who feels satisfied which results into
making them do better work. In order to have a happy and stronger team it becomes
important to give acknowledgement and recognition to the employees. Some of the common
ways team members wants to get recognized and rewarded are team wide emails recognizing
the individuals or the team, promotion or bonuses, extra vacation days.
There are various team collaboration software’s which are on rise and is being
utilized by the business organizations in order to effectively manage the projects. These
software are helpful from the communication to the project management. Technology offers a
wide range of choices. More online coordinated effort tools are growing up consistently,

while existing ones are continually improving their characteristics and usefulness. A few
organizations develop and flourish through holacracy, a collaborative administration
structure. Some of the team collaboration tools are: flow dock is a group along with a private
chat platform and s most interesting feature is its team inbox which basically combines the
notifications from the various other channels like Twitter, Asana and the various other
customer support tools. Another relevant tool is the WebEx offered by Cisco which is a
personalized video meeting rooms in which the users can host and join the meetings (15
collaboration tools for productive teams. 2020). This software can be used for team
collaboration webinars, training and customer support. Another useful tool is Asana which is
the well-known project management tool as it provides the users the comfort to assign the
tasks to its members along with adding followers to the projects with the set deadlines. It is a
very useful tool as a to-do list or calendar for the strategic planning. Also, ProofHub is a
work management instrument that offers a complete set-up of collaboration and in
undertaking the project management functions. On this stage, user can arrange documents,
plan and screen projects and examine with associates and partners. ProofHub likewise allows
the user to survey and approve documents through an online proofing tool. Therefore, these
are some of the software which are used for team collaboration which helps in effectively
communicating with one another and carrying out the project effectively.
Issues encountered while working in a team
While working in a team there are number of number of challenges which came
across and is having a huge impact over the timely and effective completion of the project.
The most common issue is the lack of trust which is a very important element in team work
and it initiates with the team members knowing each other which is important in terms of
both professionally and personally. Teamwork involves sharing of one’s idea and opinion to
another and in case of lack of trust, team members might not be willing to share their concern
with others which might affect the end outcome (Ten common team challenges ??and how to
overcome them. 2020). Another challenge is conflict and tension which is being faced while
working in a team. Conflict is probably the greatest issue confronting any group. Conflict, or
a distinction of assessment, can be solid and, if painstakingly oversaw, it can trigger valuable
discussions. Conflict can make individuals think in an unexpected way, extending
information and knowledge, and advancement can occur and results thrive. It is not a bad
thing to have a different opinion, but it requires the way to handle it appropriately. Team
engagement is very important for the organization’s success and the people working with

lower engagement will result into performing with the task as a job and not with fully
dedication and commitment towards the team mission and willing to go extra miles.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the above that the team work and collaboration is an
important concept which is being followed in all the business organization. Teamwork helps
in making sure that the desired goals is being achieved. Sometimes, tasks cannot be carried
out individually and therefore, requires assistance from the others and thus, at this time
collaborative working is needed. There are various issues which is being come across while
working in a team but by implementing the rights steps will help in overcoming such
challenges. Apart from this, there are theories like Tuckman theory which can be
implemented by the team leader or the organization in order to effectively formulate the team
and enhance its performance by achieving the desired goals.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Pfutzenreuter, T. C., de Lima, E. P. and Frega, J. R., 2020. Building High Performance
Teams (No. 4712). EasyChair.
Power, N., 2018. Extreme teams: Toward a greater understanding of multiagency teamwork
during major emergencies and disasters. American Psychologist. 73(4). p.478.
Rosen, M. A., and et.al., 2018. Teamwork in healthcare: Key discoveries enabling safer,
high-quality care. American Psychologist. 73(4). p.433.
Sanyal, S. and Hisam, M. W., 2018. The impact of teamwork on work performance of
employees: A study of faculty members in Dhofar University. IOSR Journal of
Business and Management. 20(3). pp.15-22.
Online
15 collaboration tools for productive teams. 2020. [Online]. Available Through:<
https://resources.workable.com/tutorial/collaboration-tools >.
Ten common team challenges ??and how to overcome them. 2020. [Online]. Available
Through:< https://realbusiness.co.uk/ten-common-challenges-that-teams-face-and-
how-to-overcome-them/ >.