Group Dynamics for Teams

Grounded in psychology research but with a practical focus on organizational behavior issues, Group Dynamics for Teams helps readers understand and participate in teams more effectively in day-to-day work. Best-selling author Daniel Levi and new co-author David A. Askay thoroughly examine basic group dynamics concepts, such as goals, norms, cooperation, and communication, as well as review the main challenges that teams face, such as conflict, decision making, problem solving, creativity, and valuing diversity. Throughout the book are discussions of the organizational context of teams, including the impacts of organizational culture, virtual teamwork, rewarding teams, and team building.

Table of Contents:
New to This Edition Acknowledgments About the Authors Introduction Part I: Characteristics of Teams Chapter 1: Understanding Teams Learning Objectives 1.1 Why Groups and Teams Matter 1.2 Defining Groups 1.3 Defining Teams 1.4 Why Organizations Use Teams 1.5 Purposes and Types of Teams 1.6 History of Teams and Group Dynamics Summary Team Leadership Challenge 1 Survey: Attitudes Toward Teamwork Activity: Working in Teams Chapter 2: Defining Team Success Learning Objectives 2.1 Nature of Team Success 2.2 Conditions for Team Success 2.3 Characteristics of Successful Teams 2.4 Positive-Psychology View of Team Success 2.5 Using Teams in the Workplace Summary Team Leadership Challenge 2 Activity: Understanding Team Success Part II: Processes of Teamwork Chapter 3: Team Beginnings Learning Objectives 3.1 Stages of Group Development 3.2 Group Socialization 3.3 Team Goals 3.4 Team Norms 3.5 Application: Jump-Starting Project Teams Summary Team Leadership Challenge 3 Activity: Observing Team Development Activity: Developing a Team Charter Chapter 4: Understanding the Basic Team Processes Learning Objectives 4.1 Motivation 4.2 Group Cohesion 4.3 Team Roles 4.4 Task and Social Behaviors 4.5 Team Adaptation and Learning 4.6 Basic Team Processes in Virtual Teams Summary Team Leadership Challenge 4 Activity: Tracking Teamwork Behaviors Chapter 5: Cooperation and Competition Learning Objectives 5.1 Teamwork as a Mixed-Motive Situation 5.2 Why Are People in Teams Competitive? 5.3 Problems With Competition 5.4 Benefits of and Problems With Cooperation 5.5 Application: Encouraging Cooperation Leading Virtual Teams: Building Trust and Social Relationships Summary Team Leadership Challenge 5 Survey: Cooperative, Competitive, or Individualistic Orientation Activity: Understanding Competitive Versus Cooperative Goals Chapter 6: Communication Learning Objectives 6.1 The Communication Process 6.2 Flow of a Team’s Communication 6.3 Emotional Intelligence 6.4 Facilitating Team Meetings 6.5 Communication Skills for Team Meetings Summary Team Leadership Challenge 6 Survey: Team Emotional Intelligence Activity: Observing Communication Patterns in a Team Part III: Issues Teams Face Chapter 7: Managing Conflict Learning Objectives 7.1 Conflict Is Normal 7.2 Sources of Conflict 7.3 Types of Conflict 7.4 Conflict Management 7.5 Preventing and Preparing for Team Conflict Summary Team Leadership Challenge 7 Survey: Conflict Management Styles Activity: Observing Conflict Management Styles Chapter 8: Social Influence and Power Learning Objectives 8.1 Understanding Social Influence and Power 8.2 Types Of Power 8.3 Power Dynamics 8.4 Empowerment 8.5 Application: Acting Assertively Summary Team Leadership Challenge 8 Activity: Using Power Styles—Passive, Aggressive, and Assertive Chapter 9: Decision Making Learning Objectives 9.1 Decision Making in Teams 9.2 Deciding How to Decide: Evaluating Decision-Making Approaches 9.3 Individual Decision Making 9.4 Group Decision Making 9.5 Crowd and Algorithmic Decision Making Summary Team Leadership Challenge 9 Activity: Making Consensus Decisions Activity: Group Versus Individual Decision Making Chapter 10: Leadership and Followership Learning Objectives 10.1 Defining Leadership 10.2 Leadership Emergence 10.3 Models of Effective Leadership 10.4 Team Leadership 10.5 Followership Summary Team Leadership Challenge 10 Activity: Observing the Leader’s Behavior Chapter 11: Problem Solving Learning Objectives 11.1 Understanding Problems 11.2 Descriptive Approach: How Teams Typically Solve Problems 11.3 Rational Problem Solving: How Teams Should Solve Problems 11.4 Application: Constructing a Shared Mental Model Through Process Mapping Summary Team Leadership Challenge 11 Activity: Using Problem-Solving Techniques Chapter 12: Creativity, Innovation, and Design Thinking Learning Objectives 12.1 Creativity and Innovation 12.2 Four Phases of the Idea Journey 12.3 What Is Design Thinking? 12.4 The Design Thinking Process 12.5 Promoting Team Creativity and Innovation 12.6 Virtual Creativity Summary Team Leadership Challenge 12 Activity: Comparing Different Creativity Techniques Chapter 13: Diversity and Inclusion Learning Objectives 13.1 The Importance of Diversity 13.2 Difference and Diversity 13.3 How Diversity Operates 13.4 Effects of Diversity on Team Performance 13.5 Application: Supporting Diversity and Inclusion Summary Team Leadership Challenge 13 Survey: Work Group Inclusion Activity: Understanding Gender and Status Differences in a Team Part IV: Organizational Context of Teams Chapter 14: Team, Organizational, and International Culture Learning Objectives 14.1 What Is Culture? 14.2 Team Culture 14.3 Defining Organizational Culture 14.4 Organizational Culture and Teamwork 14.5 Dimensions of International Culture 14.6 International Differences in Teamwork 14.7 Multinational Teams 14.8 Cultural Intelligence Summary Team Leadership Challenge 14 Survey: Individualism–Collectivism Activity: Evaluating a Team’s Culture and Cultural Context Activity: Comparing Teams in the United States and Japan Chapter 15: Virtuality and Teamwork Learning Objectives 15.1 Virtuality and Virtual Teams 15.2 Communication Technologies 15.3 Geographic Dispersion 15.4 Managing Virtuality on Teams Summary Team Leadership Challenge 15 Activity: Developing Norms for Virtual Teams Activity: Experiencing Teamwork in a Simulated Virtual Team Chapter 16: Evaluating and Rewarding Team Performance Learning Objectives 16.1 Performance Management 16.2 Evaluating Performance 16.3 Rewarding Performance Summary Team Leadership Challenge 16 Survey: Individual Versus Team Rewards Activity: Evaluating and Rewarding a Project Team Activity: Team Halo Effect Chapter 17: Team Development Interventions Learning Objectives 17.1 What Are Team Development Interventions? 17.2 Team Building 17.3 Types of Team-Building Programs 17.4 Team Training 17.5 Types of Training Summary Team Leadership Challenge 17 Activity: Team Building Activity: Appreciative Inquiry of Teamwork Appendix: Guide to Student Team Projects A.1 Starting the Team A.2 Planning and Developing the Project A.3 Monitoring the Project and Maintaining Teamwork A.4 Performing Team Writing A.5 Wrapping Up and Completing the Project References Index