ABSTRACT
It is often said: “The whole is more than the sum of its parts.” But does teamwork create outcomes for the organization, the team and the employees that are greater than what the individuals by themselves accomplish? This is a central issue as this book is based on the assumption that investing in teams is worthwhile. The book’s general aim is that the reader should learn more about how to implement and support effective teamwork. We first describe the motives for working in teams and the outcomes of teamwork. Second, the concept of team effectiveness is discussed to distinguish between more effective and less effective teams. No two teams are alike, and teamwork is a dynamic process of social interactions that occur in an organizational context. We present a model of effective teamwork that takes into account the context. We have identified nine core problems with teamwork. The model is used throughout the book to understand, and find solutions to these common problems in teamwork.
