April 26, 2022
Harvard Business Review recently published an article co-authored by Constance Hadley, Lecturer of Management & Organizations, regarding whether companies should still be using teams in a post-pandemic world.
The article explains how the idea of collaboration through teams used to be standard in corporate America during the 80’s. However, over the past few decades experts have been second guessing teams usage and its efficacy when compared against its costs. Constance and her co-author suggest managers analyze whether teamwork-based collaboration is worth it for their specific projects.
The authors also discuss an alternative method of collaboration that is less radical than wholesale abolishment- a method known as “co-acting groups.” This system entails loose confederations of employees who dip in and out of collaborative interactions as a project or initiative unfolds. Constance and her co-author address the potential changes these companies must consider going forward, stating, “In addition, organizations should continue to seek ways to replace the gains once driven by teams. For example, they can create social support mechanisms for employees (e.g., employee resource groups), open brainstorming opportunities (e.g., hackathons), and compelling culture-building activities (e.g., company retreats).”
