5.5.1 Establishing purpose and gaining commitment
There is usually a core purpose that dictates why organisations build teams. The most common reason for establishing teams includes:
- Discussing issues of concern;
- Need for greater responsiveness;
- Lack of management time to 'control and coordinate' every activity;
- Feedback on change/transformation strategies;
- Current customer attitudes and changing needs;
- Provide a sense of belonging and mutual support;
- Identify support needed by staff from management (resources, training, etc.);
- Review measures and targets;
- Provide reports to management on the improvement process and targets attainment;
- Provide more scope for individuals to meet immediate task responsibilities;
- Focus measures on process or specific (ie. project, problem) outcomes;
- Decentralise management and flatten hierarchical structures; and
- Speed communication.
Effective teams seem to always have a clear purpose, and members who understand the goals that the team has to achieve.