Team coherence as the reflection of unity, respect, and mutual trust Essay

Team coherence is reflected in the decisionmaking behaviours of team members as they interact with each other based on respect and mutual trust. A team with a sense of unity can alleviate the differences among members. , with functional team dynamics, the potential negative side of team diversity will be mitigated enhancing the effectiveness of teamwork (Wei and Lau, 2012). Kelchner (2013) indicates it is important to maximise team diversity to allow for different skillsets to come together where ideas are shared for the best result possible. structure of team communication has a role in influencing critical team processes as the means in which flow of information amongst members in the team can subsequently influence the teams ability to work collectively and achieve goals (Dyer, 1984). Ceschi et al., 2014 argues that communication in particular plays a key role in team decisionmaking performance. Shultz, Ketrow, and Urban (1995), for instance, indicate that the when communication is constrained exploration and evaluation of possible courses of action becomes inadequate thereby affecting quality of group decisions. Indeed, communication patterns play a significant role in group effectiveness. (Shaw, 1976). Teams have become significant vehicles to finding highquality solutions to emerging organizational problems (Jehn et al., 1999). Teams trained properly can deal with complex and chronic problems and come up with effective solutions (Twomey and Kleiner, 1996). Work groups that engage in information exchange and taskrelated communication within the group (Tushman 1979) and in external knowledge sharing (Cummings, 2004) play a fundamental role in the effectiveness of organizations (Argote et al. 2000, 2003). Substantially better results can be achieved by a team than a group of individuals limited by their working task and responsibility. They perform far better than individuals whenever there is the need for combining different skills, expertise and experience (Katzenbach and Smith, 1998).

Creativity and innovation is promoted within teambased organization (Parker, 1990Bacon & Blyton, 2000 West, 2012). Teamwork brings together individuals with diverse knowledge, orientation, skills, attitudes and experiences in a collective enterprise, thus creating the ideal conditions for creativity (West, 2012). According to Drew and CoulsonThomas, 1997, highenergy team work has greater potential for stimulating change. A team that is characterized by balanced roles, collaboration and constructive interactions among team members are more likely to make a comprehensive evaluation of opportunities and threats therefore, team diversity is complementary in facilitating firm innovation (Barkema and Shvyrkov 2007 Wei and Lau, 2012). By involving members, multiple perspectives are brought to bear which may improve the diagnosis, the range of solutions considered. Brainstorming takes place as members are encouraged to suggest new ideas in a criticism freeenvironment (Levine & Moreland, 1990). A crossfertilization of ideas opens up the space for exploration of new and improved ways of doing things (West, 2012). Creativity in teams needs to be stimulated, as it is a means ideas can be generated that could enhance or transform an organizations bottom line (Sohmen, 2013). Teamwork can therefore be employed as a tool for innovation and coordination (Nurmi, 1996).