🚀 go-pugleaf

>  Clint Pheeney wrote:
> The organisation where I work... is trying to introduce teams into the
> work environment.  One of the difficulties (amongst many)
> I see is that the organisation is traditionally autocratic and
> militaristic...  My view is that teams work best in a 'quality'
> environment, and to try to implement them in an organisation that is not
> committed to quality is doomed to failure.
>
> I would be interested in peoples observations and/or experiences on this
 issue.

I agree that teams work best in a collaborative environment. However, I've seen
successful teams in many different types of environments and cultures.
- Identify the people at the next level of the organization who support the
team concept and get them involved from the beginning, at least bounce your
ideas off of them and make sure they communicate their support to their
organizations.
- Use that to determine where to start.
- Give the teams clear goals, adequate training, monitor the results, and
provide support.
- Start in the areas where the managers are the most receptive.
- Use the successes to convince others to give it a try. Good examples
go a long way in convincing others to risk changing their style.
- Make sure you give credit to both the team and the manager.
- In the environment you're in it sounds like you'll have to be very careful to
reduce management's fear of the teams. Inappropriate authoritative management
often stems from the fear that employees will take advantage of the managers.
The above ideas should help reduce the fear.

I realize these ideas are somewhat simplistic. If you'ld like to discuss
specific concerns e-Mail me and we can discuss this in more depth. (I've worked
with teams at my company in the United States, France, Mexico, Singapore,
Malaysia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, etc.  Perhaps the few insights I've gained
can help.)

These are my opinions and not necessarily those of my employer.
Rick Marshall, Director of Quality, Carrier Transicold
<rick001@ibm.net>
or
<richard.marshall@utc.carrier.com>