Group Dynamics and Team Interventions : Understanding and Improving Team Performance

Group Dynamics and Team Interventions : Understanding and Improving Team Performance
ISBN: 9781405186704
Publication Date: 19 April 2012

This book bridges the gap between academic research about groups and real-life application with teams. The author provides effective theory and research-based interventions that students can immediately apply to their work.It is organized around the theoretical concepts that are typically found in group or team dynamics books. Unlike the books that emphasize only theory, this volume will also focus on application. Specifically, in each core chapter the author includes explanations of specific ways to improve groups rather than only providing a summary of the theories. And, unlike other applied books in improving team functioning, the author utilizes theory and empirical research to frame the content. This combination should help readers to better understand teams and then guide successful application and intervention.After an introductory chapter, the author will provide a chapter on basic group processes. For each main chapter the author will first summarize relevant theory and then summarize the steps in several different theory-based interventions. These steps will be provided in a table format so that readers can immediately see the applications. As a result, students and/or practitioners can better understand the "why" of how groups work when intervening in their teams. They will also have readily available a list of several interventions that they can use to help them improve the effectiveness of the teams in their workplace. Applied exercises at the end of each chapter and case examples of teams help readers transfer the material to real-world terms. A unique chapter on meetings examines common barriers to meetings in the workplace and offers specific exercises for improving meetings. The final chapter will be a summary of information about improving team performance an...