Making Sure the Reality Matches the Hype— Understanding What Hinders or Promotes Team Performance

Abstract

After years of experience one might be tempted to conclude that organizations have mastered the use of teams. Unfortunately, instances where team performance falls short are easy to find. Based on an analysis of actual work teams, this article summarizes and builds upon the state of knowledge as it relates to what affects the success of teams. A research study that further explored the factors that affect team success supports the findings presented here. The article concludes with a set of questions to ask when planning to use teams as well as a diagnostic tool for identifying team issues.