ABSTRACT
Teamwork has become central to the operation of our contemporary economy generally and universities specifically. This chapter explores teams on two levels. First, universities employ ad hoc teams to solve particular internal problems. Second, stakeholders often require universities to have interdisciplinary approaches in their grant activities and in the curriculum. The chapter explores several teams that manifest themselves in universities and that either operate symbolically and/or produce symbolic innovations, including ad hoc integrative; ad hoc problem-solving; research teams; and interprofessional education. It also focuses on the employee assistance program component of a number of initiatives associated with work-life at the University of Kentucky. Most of our recommendations were subsequently approved by the UK Work-Life Advisory Council and then the Board of Trustees, but the funding for them was scaled back somewhat as a result of university wide belt-tightening.
