The Care and Feeding of Work Teams COS 4880 Bruce Barnard

Hmmmmmm What do electronic circuits, governmental operations, heating equipment, communication networks, social institutions, families, and the natural environment all have in common?

General Systems Theory General systems theory is about answering that question! What is a system?

Definition A System is a collection of parts which interact with each other to form a whole.

Principles All systems process information. All human systems are open systems. They must import energy to survive. Many open systems are also guided systems – energies and resources can be directed toward achievement of specific goals

Principles Many open systems are also adaptive systems – they can change their goals and redirect resources and energy to new goals. All open systems have mechanisms for channeling energy.

Principles An open systems functions best when it can process good information about its environment. Open systems function within the limits of their environment. It is impossible to maximize the functioning of both a subsystem and the total system at the same time.

Feedback Loops Negative and Positive Loops Work Together Negative Feedback Loops Thermostat Predator/Prey Cycle Positive feedback Loops Acoustic Feedback Human Population Growth Compound Interest Gossip

Feedback Loops (Positive)

Feedback Loops (Negative)

Feedback Loops (Negative)

Functions Positive feedback loops amplify change. Negative feedback loops negate change. All stable systems contain growth loops surrounded by negative feedback loops (prey/predator, supply/demand)

Feedback Loops + Deer Births + Wolf Births Neg. loop

Feedback Loops

Functions Change that does not effect both loops will only be temporary. Any change, no matter how small, that affects the relationship between the positive and negative feedback loops will alter the long-term behavior of the system.

Teams Teams are open and adaptive systems Teams are systems within systems What happens in the larger system effects the team What happens in the team effects the larger system

Teams Every organization is perfectly designed to get the results that it gets.

Healthy Teams Teams need a purpose Teams need time Teams need access to information Teams need support Teams need autonomy Teams need to be held accountable Teams need other teams

Healthy Teams Measure performance (work processes) Measure team performance (decisions, teamwork) Are learning constantly Experiment Have plans for the future

Organizational Structure

Organizational Structure marketing shipping Steering committee purchasing research production

Organizational Structure Training & Development Steering committee Production Production Production