Discuss The Benefits And Limitations Of Teams And Explain Wh

Discuss The Benefits And Limitations Of Teams And Explain Why Employee

Discuss the benefits and limitations of teams, and explain why employees join informal groups. Apply one of these to a real life professional or personal experience involving creativity in your life (from childhood to adulthood). Cite the textbook in your explanation. Your response should be at least 200 words in length. Describe employee characteristics, workplace conditions, and specific activities that support creativity.

Paper For Above instruction

Teams play a vital role in organizational success, offering a range of benefits but also presenting certain limitations. One of the primary benefits of teams is enhanced creativity and innovation. When diverse individuals collaborate, their varied perspectives foster idea generation and problem-solving capabilities that might not emerge in individual work settings (Robbins & Judge, 2019). Teams facilitate shared knowledge, skills, and resources, leading to improved performance and productivity. They also promote mutual accountability and social support, which can motivate members to achieve common goals effectively (Robbins & Judge, 2019).

However, teams also face limitations. Groupthink can occur, where the desire for harmony suppresses dissenting opinions, potentially leading to poor decision-making (Janis, 1982). Additionally, coordination and communication challenges can hinder efficiency. Social loafing, where individuals exert less effort in a group compared to working alone, is another issue that can reduce overall effectiveness (Latané, Williams, & Harkins, 1979). Moreover, personality conflicts or varying commitment levels among team members can create tension and reduce cohesion.

Employees often join informal groups within organizations, motivated by social needs, common interests, or shared goals. These informal groups fulfill emotional and social needs beyond formal organizational structures, contributing to job satisfaction and a sense of belonging (Robbins & Judge, 2019). For example, during childhood, I joined a neighborhood sports team which fostered camaraderie, social skills, and a collective pursuit of victory. This experience developed my teamwork abilities and nurtured creativity through strategic plays and collaborative efforts.

Workplace conditions that support creativity include a psychologically safe environment where employees feel free to express ideas without fear of ridicule (Edmondson, 1999). Employee characteristics such as openness to experience, intrinsic motivation, and cognitive flexibility further promote creativity (Amabile, 1996). Specific activities like brainstorming sessions, cross-functional projects, and dedicated innovation time enable employees to explore new ideas actively. For instance, at my previous job, participating in a cross-departmental innovation challenge stimulated my creative thinking and problem-solving skills, illustrating how environmental factors and personal traits collaborate to foster creativity.

References

• Amabile, T. M. (1996). Creativity in Context. Westview Press.
• Edmondson, A. (1999). Psychological safety and learning behavior in work teams. Administrative Science Quarterly, 44(2), 350–383.
• Janis, I. L. (1982). Groupthink: Psychological Studies of Policy Decisions and Fiascoes. Houghton Mifflin.
• Latané, B., Williams, K., & Harkins, S. (1979). Many hands make light the work: The causes and consequences of social loafing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37(6), 822–832.
• Robbins, S. P., & Judge, T. A. (2019). Organizational Behavior (18th ed.). Pearson.