Idea in Brief
The Problem
Teams are more diverse, dispersed, digital, and dynamic than ever before. These qualities make collaboration especially challenging.
The Analysis
Mixing new insights with a focus on the fundamentals of team effectiveness identified by organizational-behavior pioneer J. Richard Hackman, managers should work to establish the conditions that will enable teams to thrive.
The Solution
The right conditions are
- a compelling direction
- a strong structure
- a supportive context, and
- a shared mindset
Weaknesses in these areas make teams vulnerable to problems.
Today’s teams are different from the teams of the past: They’re far more diverse, dispersed, digital, and dynamic (with frequent changes in membership). But while teams face new hurdles, their success still hinges on a core set of fundamentals for group collaboration.