ABSTRACT

A number of factors are contributing to an increasing emphasis on teams, including the

increasing availability and affordability of Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

and demands for making work more flexible by reducing its dependence on location. Many

organizations have flattened their structures and delegated responsibility in order to cut costs

and to utilize the skills of the workforce more effectively. Shifting authority and responsibility

down the organization allows teams to take over roles and functions previously performed

by management. There are also changes in relationships – among employees, between

employees and employers, and between all kinds of organizations and their customers and

business partners. Companies that formerly developed products solo are now forming

development alliances with suppliers, customers, contractors, consultants, and even

competitors.