What are the different types of teams?

The teams are classified on the basis of the objectives they have to achieve. Generally we find these three types of teams in organizations self manage teams, problem solving teams and cross functional teams. These three different types of teams are discussed in detail:

(i) Self managed teams
Usually there are ten to fifteen members in a self managed team who have taken the responsibilities of their former supervisors. They are responsible for the collective control over the speed of the work and the determination of work assignments. They are also responsible for the organization of breaks and the collective choice of inspection procedures. These teams even select their own members and these members evaluate each others performance. Supervisory position take on decreased importance and in some cases, can even be eliminated.

Business journal are all over the world are full of articles describing successful operation of self managed teams. These teams help to increase the employee satisfaction and the volume of business of the companies. These teams lead to reduction in costs and increase in productivity.

In spite of the increasing importance of self managed teams, some organizations have been disappointed with the results of these teams. The overall research on the performance of these teams has also not been very positive. The employees working in self managed teams seem to have higher absenteeism and turn over rates than do employees working in traditional work structures. The specific reasons for all this are not very clear and require some additional research.

(ii) Problem solving teams
These are the traditional types of teams and in the beginning almost all teams of this form. Generally there are five to ten employees in every department who meet for a few hours every week to discuss the methods to improve efficiency and the quality of work. The purpose of these teams is to share the ideas and listen to the suggestion about the methods of improving the work processes. These teams usually give the suggestions only and do not have the authority to implement these suggestions. The quality circles are the most common form of problem solving teams. These teams are not very popular among the present day organizations as these could only suggestions but could not implement these suggestions and take the responsibility for the outcomes of these suggestions.

(iii) Cross functional teams
The cross functions teams are most popular forms of teams in the recent days. These days teams are made up of employees from about the same hierarchical level but from different work areas, who come together to accomplish a task. The examples of cross functional teams can be task forces and committees. A task force is a temporary cross functional team and committees are group made up of members from across departmental lines.

Cross functional teams are an effective means for allowing people from diverse areas within an organization (or even between organizations) to exchange information, develop new ideas and solve problems and co-ordinate complex projects.

Despite the usefulness of cross functional teams, these teams are quite difficult to manage. Particularly, the initial stages of development are very time consuming as in these stages members learn to work with diversity and complexity. When people from different back grounds, experiences and with different perspectives come together, is takes time to build trust and team work. It will depend upon the capabilities of managers to facilitate and build trust among team members.