evaluate effective strategies for leading diverse groups at various levels of an organization while fostering collaboration and compassion.
Review the case, Blake Sports Apparel and Switch Activewear: Bringing the Executive Team Together. Consider the criteria for successful teams and the factors needed to ensure teams are structured for success.
Write a 750-1,000-word plan describing the steps necessary to create more successful teams at various levels in an organization by utilizing the events outlined in the case. Address the following questions and concepts in your paper. Be sure to support your rationale by providing specific examples. You are required to include three to five additional references to support your position.
Define the characteristics and structure of successful teams. Describe how independent teams are vital to organizational success.
Discuss the important factors to consider when leading teams within the various levels of an organization. Discuss specifically which factors are important to consider when leading teams at the executive level.
Describe the aspects that are essential in identifying appropriate members for teams and ensuring the teams are successfully launched.
Discuss the important factors for ongoing team dynamics. Describe guidelines to evaluate the function and productivity of teams.
Describe strategies that can create collaboration and leadership initiative among team members. Based on the content provided in the case, explain the action that Barker can take to improve collaboration among the team members.
Sample Answer
A Strategic Plan for Fostering Team Success
Introduction
In today's complex business landscape, the ability to build and lead successful teams is paramount to organizational success. The case of Blake Sports Apparel and Switch Activewear: Bringing the Executive Team Together highlights a critical challenge: integrating two distinct corporate cultures into a single, cohesive unit following a merger. The new executive team, composed of leaders from both organizations, faces a significant hurdle in overcoming prior loyalties, communication silos, and a lack of a unified vision. This plan outlines a strategic approach to address these challenges, leveraging established principles of team dynamics, leadership, and organizational development to transform this diverse group into a high-performing, collaborative team. By defining the characteristics of successful teams, considering the nuances of leadership at various organizational levels, and implementing proactive strategies for collaboration and evaluation, the company can move beyond its initial integration challenges to foster a culture of collective success.
Characteristics and Structure of Successful Teams
Successful teams are defined not just by their output, but by their foundational structure and operating characteristics. At their core, successful teams possess a clear, shared purpose, a strong sense of psychological safety, and a complementary mix of skills and personalities. Each member understands their role and how it contributes to the collective goal, minimizing confusion and redundant effort. Furthermore, successful teams are built on a foundation of mutual trust and open communication, where members feel safe to voice opinions, admit mistakes, and offer constructive feedback without fear of retribution (Edmondson, 1999).
Independent teams are vital to organizational success as they foster agility and specialization. By empowering independent teams to own specific projects or functions—such as the marketing team at Blake Sports Apparel or the product development team at Switch Activewear—an organization can leverage deep expertise and accelerate decision-making. These teams, when aligned with the broader organizational mission, can innovate more rapidly and respond to market changes with greater speed than a rigid, top-down structure would allow. This autonomy, however, must be balanced with clear inter-team communication and a shared commitment to the company's overarching vision to prevent the creation of counterproductive silos.