ABSTRACT
Primary responsibility for work in organizations is shifting from individuals to teams (Hackman, 1987; Ilgen, 1994; Ilgen, Major, Hollenbeck, & Sego, 1995). To some, this shift goes beyond normal change to a revolutionary restructuring of the way work is accomplished. Fortune magazine ran a cover story entitled “The End of the Job,” in which it was suggested that the whole concept of a job is outdated (Bridges, 1994). Few go as far as Bridges. However, regardless of how radical one views the expanded use of teams in organizations, there is little doubt that tasks and jobs formally assigned to individuals are today often accomplished by teams. Now, more than ever, organizational effectiveness depends on the performance of persons who work in teams.
