Question

What are the challenges to each factors that affect taskwork-teamwork network structures? In each team network structure, what factors will lead to optimal performance?

Answer 1

There is a saying in the business industry, that teamwork makes the dream work. We can take it to be the representative of its necessity as well as the fact that without a harmonious teamwork network, the implementation and execution of any process are severely impaired. The challenges faced by the network are:

BUILDING TRUST
It represents the understanding that in order for cohesive and productive work to occur, there needs to be an interpersonal understanding between the different teams in the network, the associated challenge in building this trust is lack of understanding or role ambiguity, lack of understanding of the scope of the task and a lack of proper communication channel.

PHYSICAL PROXIMITY
The consideration for the teams to be in close proximity to the proper exchange of ideas and communication throughout the network is high. We can say that the associated challenge with being able to maintain physical proximity can be both location and geographical constraint and an issue with a lack of supporting physical infrastructure, something that cannot be solved through the virtual route.

CONDITIONS
The requirement for optimality is a function of necessity, especially since the current landscape holds a fast-paced work environment. The challenges that occur in providing the optimal conditions for the optimal functioning of the various teamwork mechanisms revolve around both physical and mental disruptions, such as a noisy work environment, the lack of proper planning, over exceeding schedule, or a lack of resources.

SELF AWARENESS OF THE TEAMS
While the members might be aware of their own peers, especially in their teams the fact that other teams might exhibit low self-awareness can lead to the challenge where the different networks feel the frustration, resistance to feedback or knowledge control, and lack of accountability by the different parts of the network.

LACK OF ALIGNMENT OF GOALS, PURPOSE, AND SCOPE
While the scope is planned by the upper management, the fact that it needs to be translated by the middle managers and the leaders at the supervisory roles creates a compelling factor of misalignment of the various networks. The associated challenges could be considered due to role ambiguity, lack of understanding, lack of accountability as well as avoidance by the teams, especially if a network believes that doing so would be incriminating.

The team factor like a high degree of self-awareness, open communications, accountability, and the alignment between its goals and functions would lead towards a positive outlook that would then lead to the optimal outcome. The planning is also just as valid a concern. We can have the best teams with the best talent in the company and have the implementation fall apart because their capacity could not be fully recognized.

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