Misty Andersen
Case Study 1
Due 1/30/2024
BUSB-B501
The case study chosen for this discussion was “
Building a Collaborative Environment
,” Case
4. In this study, Dr. Wu has been given a new grant and is looking to build a team that is collaborative in nature and has a need for any candidates for the team to be on that same mindset. She simply does not want any members who prefer working alone.
This approach is beneficial for innovation, problem-solving, and collective success. However, relying solely on team collaboration without allowing for individual work can lead to several issues. Some of these issues may include reduced autonomy, groupthink, slower decision making, unequal contributions, creativity and innovation limitations, dependency on group dynamics, difficulty in assessing individual contributions, flexibility and adaptability concerns, work/life balance challenges and issues ensuring that specialized skills are accessible. It's essential to strike a balance between teamwork and individual contributions
Constant team collaboration may limit individual autonomy. Some tasks or projects may be better suited for independent work, allowing team members to take ownership and showcase their unique skills and creativity. Overemphasis on team collaboration can lead to groupthink, where individuals may be hesitant to express dissenting opinions or alternative perspectives. This response can hinder critical thinking and result in suboptimal decisions. Collaborative decision-making processes can sometimes be slower due to the need for consensus or approval from multiple team members. Individual decision-making can be quicker in certain situations. In a team-only collaboration environment, there is a risk that not all team members contribute equally. Some people may become passive, relying on others to do the work, leading to resentment and imbalance within the team. Excessive focus on teamwork may stifle individual creativity. Some people thrive when working independently and may generate innovative ideas when given the space to explore their thoughts on their own. Relying solely on team collaboration might make individuals overly dependent on group dynamics. This dependency can be detrimental when team structures change or when individuals need to work on projects outside the team context. Evaluating individual performance can be challenging when the emphasis is solely on team collaboration. This can impact performance assessments, promotions, and recognition for individual achievements. A rigid focus on team collaboration may hinder flexibility and adaptability. Individuals may struggle to adapt to changing circumstances if they are accustomed to a highly collaborative environment. Constant team collaboration might contribute to work overload and impact work-life balance, as individuals may
feel pressure to always be available for group discussions and meetings. Some tasks require specialized skills that individuals possess. Relying solely on team collaboration might overlook the benefits of specialized expertise, leading to suboptimal outcomes in certain areas or at specific times.
Dr. Wu’s vision of having a highly collaborative team is achievable. She needs to address several items prior to the beginning of the project, including the decision making process, establishing a proper work/life balance and how to overcome groupthink and “slackers.” Decisions are key for any project. Some plans require the team lead to make the decision while others expect the team to contribute their thoughts. What will the process be for this grant? Establishing a proper work/life balance means setting expectations about meetings, what times should team members be available for consultations and what happens when a team member is
unavailable, either due to illness or PTO. Without clear expectations, employees can experience
pressures to always be available and become easily burnt out. This approach also needs to have processes to manage groupthink and “slackers” in order to encourage a truly collaborative
