An Analysis of Teamwork, Group Dynamics, and Knowledge Organization

This report explores the crucial role of teamwork in the employment context, highlighting its benefits such as increased productivity, improved problem-solving, and enhanced communication and cohesion within organizations. It delves into the importance of team dynamics, examining theories of group development, including those by George Homans and the social exchange theory. Furthermore, the report discusses the Tuckman theory's stages of group formation and the Belbin test for assessing team leadership skills. The report also emphasizes the significance of organizing knowledge and learning within teams, discussing how shared information and diverse perspectives contribute to better solutions and increased efficiency. It concludes by underscoring the overall advantages of teamwork for businesses, including cost reduction, improved productivity, and the cultivation of a positive working environment. The report emphasizes the importance of managers encouraging teamwork to address complex situations and leverage collective knowledge.

Working In Teams

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Importance of working in teams in employment context............................................................1
Theories related with group dynamics........................................................................................2
Organise knowledge and learning...............................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENNCES..............................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
When group of individuals come or work together for achieving the common purpose, it
is known as team. Basically teams are formed for solving the problems having high complexity.
Increased productivity is one of the main advantages of working in teams (Lingard, and et. al.,
2012). Members included in the teams having complementary skills create synergy and
maximize the strengths of team and minimise its weaknesses. Present report is based on the
understanding of how teams work. Various theories related with group dynamics and the way
team members collect relevant information from various sources for increasing their level of
knowledge are also mentioned in this essay.
Importance of working in teams in employment context
Large number of employees working in enterprise for achieving the set goals and
objectives. It became beneficial for firms to work in teams as this not only increases the
productivity of employees but at the same time, enhances trust and respect for each other. Teams
are formed with group of individuals having variety of skills which increase the productivity of
whole team and minimize the time for completing complex tasks. Working in a team increases
the self-confidence and problem solving skills of individuals. Team work leads to higher
worker’s satisfaction and increases the productivity of enterprise as a whole. Importance of
working in teams in an enterprise or in context of employment can be understood by the
following points: Problem solving: One of the main benefits of working in team is that it creates synergy as
team is formed with the members having multi skills. It reduces the complexity of a task
and provides effective solutions. Team results in providing collective ideas and increases
the strengths of group. Communication: Effective communication is one of the backbones of company. It leads
to eliminate confusion from the minds of employees related with their roles and
responsibilities. When a large number of individuals gather for accomplishing common
tasks then they share knowledge with each other which creates a number of developments
(Pangil and Moi Chan, 2014). Conversation among members of teams prevent employees
from any kind of confusion. For example: if members are discussing one method of
solving the problem and other member is trying other method than this leads to reduce
productivity.
1

 Cohesion: One of the main benefits of working in team is that it increases the cohesion in
enterprise. It can be the results of trust among employees towards each other. Cohesion of
teamwork increases the flow of work and provide effective solution to the critical
problems.
 Learning: It is one of the main benefits of working in a team. When number of
individuals come to work together that everyone learn something new from the other
team member. For example: if a member of marketing department works with the
member of other department of enterprise then he will learn something new from other
member.
One of the main benefits of working in a team is that it encourages all encourage of teams
to achieve success. It is one of the essential parts of health and social care of employees working
in enterprise (Patel, Pettitt and Wilson, 2012). It is necessary that all members of teams should
have a clear understanding of the main objectives and about their roles and responsibilities for
achieving an effective output. Objectives provide a standard to all members of teams for
measuring the performance and need of improvement. Before assigning roles and responsibilities
to every manner of team, it is necessary to have a detailed understanding about the structure and
policy adopted by enterprise. Along with this, team members should have information regarding
the job responsibilities for better understanding the role of that individual.
Working in teams give rise to synergy and provide effective solution to the critical
problems of organisation. So, manager should focus and encourage the working in team.
Members of team get a chance to enhance their knowledge and skills during completing the work
which guide them in future for solving the critical situations. It increase the effectiveness of
enterprise work and at the same time decrease the cost of all operations with increase efficiency.
One of the main advantage of working is teams is that it provide opportunity to individual to
learn something new and at the same time explore their hidden talent.
Theories related with group dynamics
Group dynamics refer to the special characteristics of a group which makes it different
other number of groups. Success of group tasks and objectives largely based on its dynamics.
Basically, it includes the way in which group forms and is made along with their structure,
process and functions. Group dynamics is an important element of both kinds of groups; formal
and informal. Study of group dynamics is one of the important elements to study in enterprise as
2

it plays an important role in the success of firm. For better understanding group dynamics,
development of group is considered by the manager.
Group development
Group development is how and why group develop. Large number of theories are there
which state the main reason behind development of group. According to the theory developed by
George homans, group are developed on the basis of their activities, sentiments and interaction.
Basically, when individuals share common activities then it increases the interaction that take
place in between them which give rise or develop their attitudes which can be either positive or
negative. Interaction among individuals is one of the main elements according to the theory.
Social exchange is another theory of group development. As per this, individual interacts
with other people when they felt trust with other individual.
These two are the main theories of development of group. Main theories of group dynamics can
be understood by the following:
No man is an island: According to this theory when large number of individuals make a
groups for accomplishing a task than every individual is different from the other individual in
terms of skills, qualities and abilities which make a group unique (Brock and et. al., 2013). This
increase the ability of group members to solve complex tasks.
The tuckman theory: Bruce Tuckman come up with a theory of group dynamics in 1965.
according to this theory of group dynamics basically there are five stages of forming a group.
Followings five stages are included in this: Forming: This is the first stage involve in the development of a group. Under this
members of groups come together with the aim of become familiar with each other and
with the purpose of making group. Under this all team members decide for the roles and
responsibilities of each other. Along with this rules and regulations of working in the
group are also decided under this. Storming: Storming is the second stage of group development. Conflict and competition
among group members arise under this (Coyle and Croker, 2014). Members start better
understanding the main purpose of group and start solving the main issues. Norming: After all members became familiar which each other it is the time where
group can enter into a third stage called norming. Under this groups became cohesive it
increase the morale of group member and members starts showing their skills and talents.
3

All individuals of group became focused on the main purpose, members start doing trust
on each other. Leadership is also started in this level and information shared among the
members of group. Performing: This is one of the productivity stage of group. Members of groups became
supportive and loyal (CROOK and WATERHOUSE, 2013). Individual start taking
decision for accomplish the tasks. Individuals start doing as a group for achieving the set
results. Adjourning: This is the last stage , under this group are dissolved after completing the
work. Belbin test: This test is done by the higher authorities of firms for analysing the skills of
a team leader for achieving effective results. This help in identifying the strengths of an
individual and use it in an effective way. It helps in identifying the skills required for
handling a large number of individuals. Following are the main skills required a group: Investigator of resource required: Leader of a team should have special quality to
identify the resources required by team during the process of work so that set results can
be achieved by the group. Team builder: Leader of a team should have capability to bring cooperation and
coordination among the various efforts of team (Drury, Conboy and Power, 2012).
Support from team leader should be provided to all members so that they can work
effectively. Coordinator: This is one of the biggest trait required for becoming a leader of a team.
Cooperation should be the among all activities perform by members of team so that set
results can be achieved by the firm. Plan: It assist team leader in plan all future activities of team in advance so that all tasks
can be fulfilled effectively.
 Monitor: Under this team leader monitor all activities and tasks performed by the team
member so that so that right direction can be provided to the members and corrective
action can be taken by the leader whenever required.
Organise knowledge and learning
Large number of benefits are their of working in a team. Increased knowledge and
experience is one of the biggest benefit. When a team is form than it is made up from large
4

number of individuals having different background and culture who gather for fulfilling the
common purpose. Every members of team have different knowledge and skills form each other.
When people starts working together than they share their information which each other. For
solving the problem members of team can collect relevant information form number of tools.
Better results can be achieved by team by brings coordination and cooperation among all efforts
and activities done by team members (Jelphs, Dickinson and Miller, 2016). Shared knowledge
among all members of team members increase the efficiency of completed task. For solving a
complex problem members of group can collect information from books of various authors.
Internet can also used by members for gathering information on a topic and to solve complex
problems. Various sources of knowledge can be used by different members of groups for find
better solutions. Useful sites on internet can be used by members of group for gathering
knowledge about the problem. Today information about every topic is available on the internet
so sites like Wikipedia and you tube can be used be use d by the team leader to offer better
solution to the problem. Knowledge of all members is one of the important source of
information. Different people show different solution to the same problem on the basis of their
knowledge and experience.
By making teams organisation can find better solution to the problems and can deliver
better quality products and services to large number of customers. Increased productivity, skills
and knowledge is one of the main advantage of working in teams. Along with this working in
teams leads to create positive working environment in the enterprise which motivate individual
to perform better. When number of individuals work together for accomplishing the task than
one of the main advantage of this is that it increase the confidence of all members as
responsibility is divided among all members of group (Jensen, 2013). So getting all this benefits
manager of enterprise should encouraged working in teams so that complex situation can easily
handle by the talented individuals of groups or large number of information can be collected by
members of team.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it can be concluded that it provide various benefits to firms while
working in a team. This reduce the cost of all operations and at the same time increase
productivity of enterprise. It is very essential for firms to work in a team for getting benefits like
effective communication, increased productivity and many more. Further, performance of a team
5

can be enhanced by better understanding its purpose and dynamics. Along with this various
theories can be used by the managers of a firm for better understanding the behaviour of group
and give direction to their activities for for achieving better results.
6

REFERENNCES
Books and Journals
Benrazavi, S. R. and Silong, A. D., 2013. Employees' job satisfaction and its influence on
willingness to work in teams. Journal of Management Policy and Practice. 14(1).
p.127.
Brock, D. and et. al., 2013. Interprofessional education in team communication: working
together to improve patient safety. BMJ Qual Saf. 22(5). pp.414-423.
Coyle, J. and Croker, A., 2014. Working in Teams. In Health Practice Relationships (pp. 65-74).
SensePublishers.
CROOK, G. and WATERHOUSE, M., 2013. WORKING IN TEAMS. Management and
Business Skills in the Built Environment, p.61.
Drury, M., Conboy, K. and Power, K., 2012. Obstacles to decision making in Agile software
development teams. Journal of Systems and Software. 85(6). pp.1239-1254.
Jelphs, K., Dickinson, H. and Miller, R., 2016. Working in teams. Policy Press.
Jensen, R. M., 2013. Understanding early Christian art. Routledge.
Lingard, L., and et. al., 2012. Conflicting messages: examining the dynamics of leadership on
interprofessional teams. Academic Medicine. 87(12). pp.1762-1767.
Pangil, F. and Moi Chan, J., 2014. The mediating effect of knowledge sharing on the relationship
between trust and virtual team effectiveness. Journal of Knowledge Management. 18(1).
pp.92-106.
Patel, H., Pettitt, M. and Wilson, J.R., 2012. Factors of collaborative working: A framework for a
collaboration model. Applied ergonomics. 43(1). pp.1-26.
Online
Tuckman (forming, norming, storming, performing). 2012. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.mspguide.org/tool/tuckman-forming-norming-storming-performing>.
[Accessed on 14th August 2017].
Why Teamwork is Important in the Workplace. 2017. [Online]. Available through:
<http://aib.edu.au/blog/teamwork/teamwork-is-important-in-the-workplace/>. [Accessed
on 14th August 2017].
7