High performing work team analysis

Organizations often use surveys or questionnaires to obtain
information regarding employee satisfaction, organizational issues impacting
staff performance, and perceptions of pay and benefits, organizational culture,
etc. Sometimes, questionnaires are used
in classes for staff development and focus on behavioral styles, conflict
styles, or team behaviors. Additionally,
surveys may be used to help intact teams or departments focus on and resolve
team differences or performance issues. Many
times, the questions themselves provide people with insight into what the
organization expects from its employees.

The
Scenario

You are the leader of a cross-functional team that has not been
performing well. You are not sure what’s
causing the problems, but you know that the team cannot continue this way. You have contacted the Human Resources (HR) department
for help, and they suggested using the High
Performing Work Teams Survey as a tool to diagnose problems within the
team. Every team member will complete
the survey anonymously. The HR department
will analyze the results and will work with you to develop a plan to address
issues.

Your
Task

Read the questions in the High Performing Work Teams Survey. The survey follows these instructions. You will analyze the questions,
identify trends you see in the questions, and discuss what you and the members of
your team could learn by taking this survey.

Write 4-7 pages (not
counting the cover or reference pages), summarizing the trends
you identified, describing what you and your team members could learn from
taking the survey, and discussing your conclusions about what is required of
team members in order to create a high performing work team. Support your opinions and statements with a
minimum of five references from sources published within the last ten years.

You can cite scholarly and practitioner-oriented journals,
newspaper articles, YouTube videos, (but not Wikipedia, vendor websites, or
other non-academic sources.) Please use
the UMUC library to search for appropriate sources rather than Google or other
search engines. Librarians are available
by phone, email, and chat; they are excellent at their jobs and they love to
help students. See the Library link in
the Resources section (on the ribbon at the top of our classroom) or go
directly to https://sites.umuc.edu/library/index.cfm for more
information and to begin searching for sources. You can also consult a graduate writing tutor
for help with organizing your ideas, presenting them clearly, and complying
with APA style requirements. You can
access tutors through the Writing Tutoring module in our classroom.

Use APA format for citations, references, and quotations.
This means your list of references should start on a separate page, and should
be double spaced, with a hanging indent and no spaces between entries.
Your analysis should be 4-7 pages (not counting the cover or reference pages),
double spaced with one-inch margins and a font size of at least 11 points. The rubric for Grading High Performing Work
Team Analysis is provided along with this document (it follows the High Performing Work Teams Survey). The rubric gives details on how your analysis
will be graded. Keep in mind that most
organizations value efficient communication; busy managers don’t have time –
and most don’t have the desire – to read long reports. Keep your writing clear and concise.

High Performing Work
Team Survey

The High Performing Work Team Survey appears below. The criteria for grading this assignment
follow the survey.

Mission: 5 Items
1.
I understand what
contributions I am expected to make to the organization
2.
I understand how this
team’s performance will affect the business results of the company.
3.
I can describe the
mission or why this team exists.
4.
I understand the team’s
primary purpose.
5.
Team members agree on
the major work functions that our team is to
perform.

Goals: 5 Items
6.
I understand the team’s goals.
7.
I am highly motivated
to achieve the goals.
8.
I understand the team’s
long term goals.
9.
I understand the
standards for team quality and effectiveness.
10. This team has goals that are closely linked to the
company’s goals.

Roles: 5 Items
11.
I understand the role I
am expected to perform for team success.
12.
Team members are
handling all job functions that the team is required to perform.
13.
I understand what is
expected of other team members.
14.
Team members maintain a
clear focus on the high priority tasks that are to be completed.
15.
At least one member of
this team attempts to maintain positive/harmonious relationships.

Procedures: 5 Items
16. We have procedures that encourage members to participate equally.
17. We have procedures for providing feedback directly to team members.
18. We have procedures for handling the common problems or
unexpected events.
19. Agendas are distributed before each team meeting.
20. Follow-up dates are set when actions are agreed upon.

Relationships: 5 Items
21.
I am encouraged to
express my ideas even when my ideas disagree with the majority.
22.
Team members live up to
their promises.
23.
Team members listen to
me even when they disagree with me.
24.
Team members have given
me positive feedback and recognition.
25.
Team members solicit
ideas and help from me.

Effectiveness: 5 Items
26. This team usually completes tasks and meets its deadlines.
27. The team is fulfilling its purpose or mission.
28. Team meetings are efficient.
29. Team meeting end up with all topics and work completed.
30. This team is effective compared to other teams.

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