1. The Care and Feeding of Work Teams
COS 4880
Bruce Barnard

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

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

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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. Feedback Loops (Positive)

10. Feedback Loops (Negative)

11. Feedback Loops (Negative)

12. 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)

13. Feedback Loops
+ Deer Births
+ Wolf Births
Neg. loop

14. Feedback Loops

15. 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.

16. 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

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

18. 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

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

20. Organizational Structure

21. Organizational Structure
marketing
shipping
Steering
committee
purchasing
research
production

22. Organizational Structure
Training &
Development
Steering
committee
Production
Production
Production