HOMEWORK Questions – chapter 1

What are the five key defining characteristics of teams?
Consider the four different types of teams described in this chapter. How is authority and control distributed in each type of team?
What are the key advantages and disadvantages of each team model?
Give some real-life examples of organizations that use each of the four different types of teams described in this chapter. Is the type of team structure used by each organization effective or not?
What are some of the most common misperceptions of managers when it comes to teams and teamwork? How can these misperceptions lead to poor team performance?
Describe your own team or group, or a team or group you have worked with in the past. What type of team is it? How many people are on the team? How long have the team members worked together? In your opinion, what are the most frustrating aspects of teamwork? How do your responses compare to those of the managers surveyed in this chapter?
What skills do you consider most important when it comes to teams and teamwork? Which of these skills do you feel you possess, and which ones do you need to develop further?