Empowered Teams

Provides the frank answers to questions about how teams work, what makes them effective, when they are useful, how to get them going, and how to maintain their vigor and productivity over the long haul. Draws on a survey of over five hundred organizations and an in-depth study of twenty-eight companies (conducted jointly by Industry Week and the Association for Quality and Participation).

Prologue: A Workplace Revolution: The Coming of EmpoweredTeams. HOW TEAMS WORK. Empowering Teams: Reaping the Benefits of Greater EmployeeParticipation. Moving Toward Empowered Teams: Rethinking LeadershipResponsibilities. Confronting New Organizational Questions: How Teams Function in aRedesigned Organization. A Day in the Life of a Self-Directed Team: A Case Study. PREPARING FOR TEAMS. Implementing a New Vision: The Role of Senior Management. Planning the Successful Launch of Self-Directed Teams: The DesignProcess and Principles. The New Look of Leadership: What's Left for a Leader to Do? Selecting Team Players: Choosing the Right People forTeamwork. Training the New Team: Planning and Supporting Critical SkillDevelopment. BUILDING STRONG TEAMS. Stage One: Getting Started. Stage Two: Going in Circles. Stage Three: Getting on Course. Stage Four: Full Speed Ahead. Epilogue: What's Next for Self-Directed Teams?