Work Groups and Team Roles
A work team is a group of individual who work interdependently towards a common goal and have a team purpose. A workgroup, on the other hand, are people sharing the same purpose but may not have interpersonal relations. Teams work cohesively, and there is trust and collaboration among members while groups work individually (Forsyth, 2018). This essay provides an analysis of a workgroupworkgroup.
An analysis of the video: Transforming SILOs; Cutting edge communication Comedy series, shows that the SILO culture is fragmented and closed whereas teams share and care about one another. Marcus is trying to address a SILO effect that is running through the office. He believes that his collogues are working as individuals and not as a team. He is trying to create some cohesiveness among his teammates. (Transforming SILOs: Cutting Edge Communications Comedy Series, n.d.)
Based on the video, the high participants are those that contribute to the agenda of the meeting and share their ideas. A good example is Carol, who believes that she has the brain of everyone combined. She also a critic and does not have faith in transforming the SILO effects that is affecting her team members. Low participants are those who sit in silence and go with the flow. For instance, Tina believes that though they are supposed to be open and honest, it is wrong to talk about someone else’s feelings. She has a negative attitude about sharing her thoughts and feelings with her teammates. Some of the similarities between high and low participants is both work in one organization with a common goal and are accountable for their actions. The difference is that the high participant are more vocal and share their ideas, thoughts and issues in the open unlike low participants who stay silent. The role played that this culture has played in the organization is it has created an aspect of selfishness and not caring. Some believe that creativity flows when you work alone since one is only concerned and focused about his or her part.
From the conversation, it is clear that carol and Serena talks to Marcus because they are the group leaders. Carol tends to associate to Marcus because they are both in a leadership position. At the start of the video, carol acknowledges that Marcus had talked to her earlier about the SILO effect that is running through the office. This has adverse effect to the other team members because information does not flow downward but remains at the top positions. The flow of information is what makes people feel and behave as a team.
Marcus is the person who keep that meeting going. From my perspective, he has the taken up the role of a team leader. When he noticed the SILO effect in the office, he initiated the meeting by requesting his collogues to dress in blue. Unlike carol, he does not criticize his teammates. He has a positive response to all the members’ reservations and issues. For instance, when Casey comes with one tricket for Carlos and leaves the rest of the team, Marcus applauds her for thinking about her teammate. When there are reservations against his analogy of not working in a SILO, he reminds them that there are team members there to support them. He wants to create a culture of bonding, sharing and cohesiveness so that members work as a team. Members should be open to communication and sharing of ideas and talents so that they can help each other grow and develop.
According to Marcus, SILO mean “Stuck Inside Limited Outside”. I believe his analysis of the word SILO is what cause the shift in participation. Some of the advantages of this work group working as a team is there will be increased sharing of resources and ideas, better utilization, better focus, bonding, creates an opportunity to listen to what members have to offer, more caring about other member’s needs, talent development, cohesiveness and the creation of a unified culture.
As a leader, some of the things that I would do to lead the team include increasing communication, encouraging members to share their ideas more, delegating more especially to the silent members and implement team building exercises.
References
Forsyth, D. R. (2018). Group dynamics. Cengage Learning.
Transforming SILOs: Cutting Edge Communications Comedy Series [Video]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://vlib.excelsior.edu/login?url=digital.films.com.vlib.excelsior.edu/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=8496&xtid=56337&loid=240632