This volume of the annual series on work teams focuses on leadership. A number of experts in academia and in business agree that leadership is the key to effective work teams. However, they do not necessarily agree on what is meant by 'leadership', how leadership should be enacted, or what constitutes a 'team'. The world of work is changing, and with it, the nature of leadership or our understanding of it is changing. There has been some evolution of leadership concepts and practices toward a more empowering approach focusing on the employees as human resources, but the older command and...

The chapters in this volume are drawn from the Center for Study of Work Teams most recent conference, one which brings practitioners and researchers together to share knowledge and experience. The chapters cover a diversity of issues and variables that contribute to successful teaming. They also cover a variety of types of teams and remind us that different factors apply to different team requirements. Collectively these chapters expand our knowledge base in the field. This volume is an example of how the Center has contributed to the accumulation and management of knowledge about teaming...

The papers included in this volume identify some of the problems and some of the solutions to the kinds of problems that arise through working as virtual teams. They provide a framework for thinking about such problems and ideas that can form a foundation for advancing practice in the field.

Concluding the Advances in Interdisciplinary Studies of Work Teams series with a focus on team-based organizing, this title reveals how the context for teams is critical to their success. Environmental factors may determine team goal accomplishment more than factors internal to the team. In particular, alignment of support systems with work teams influences how well they can function and how the team members feel about reaching challenging goals. critical success factors that impact team environments and how to address those factors. The second chapter focuses on effective change practices...

Intangible forms of capital are being recognized in both research and practice as essential resources for fueling company growth. Forms of intangible capital include: intellectual, organizational, human, relationship, social, political, innovation, and collaborative. This volume consists of papers that focus on collaborative capital -- broadly defined as the organizational assets that enable people to work together well. It is manifested in such outcomes as increased innovation and creativity, commitment and involvement, flexibility and adaptability, leveraging of knowledge, and enhanced...

Innovation has become one of the primary core competencies of effective organizations. It leads to changes in products, services, organizational design, processes, strategies, and the systems that support them. It occurs when someone has an idea, shares it with others, and all find ways to turn the idea into action. The sharing is a critical step. Creative ideas blossom in a collaborative environment. Implementation depends on collaboration. The chapters in this volume explore a variety of methods and settings that show how collaboration can be utilized to enable and enhance innovation. The...

Covers such topics as cross-functional teamwork, working in public and learning-in-action, organizing knowledge work systems and varieties of knowledge work experience.