Old School
"Crews", what's up with that? I prefer the old school or street definition because it captures the true essense of why people banded together.
Sure it started in neighbourhoods with people of the same backgrounds. But isn't that what companies want to create - community? Isn't that the type of kinship, loyalty and conviction your people need to produce profitable results?
Definition
A Crew is comprised of individuals who are qualified performers in their areas of expertise working in unison, each of whom are actively sharing and contributing to a common cause that is mutually beneficial.
Shew
There are a number of characteristics that make a team more than a loosely coupled bunch of people.
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Shared goals
Members of a team have some goals in common. In the classroom, this is often the goal of completing a project or of getting a satisfactory grade. It is important for team members to realize that they are "in this together." Helping team members recognize and acknowledge the goals they have in common can help build team cohesiveness.
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Interdependence of members
As stated earlier, members of a team depend on one another. Helping students understand this leads to an clearer understanding that what they do impacts EVERYONE else on the team.
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Cooperation is required
This comes from the interdependence of members. Since members depend on one another, it is imperative that they cooperate. While this may seem obvious, helping students foster a spirit of cooperation can go a long way towards a smoothly running team.
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Characteristics of High Performing Crews
Rant
I've grown weary of the term Team Work. Team and teamwork have been reduced to a contorted and manipulated view to suit companies images and their standing in the business world.
Case in point. I worked for a company, who spoke of teams and teamwork, yet their "Employee Handbook" talked about everything but. Basically conform and follow the rules. Sure companies must have "rules" but when those rules negate the essense of teamwork and then you really believe and live in a team evironment? Years prior, the company I was at was definitely team based. There was published document explaining the what a team was through it's positive characteristics.
Now the key ingrediant is whether you have the leaders who walk the walk rather than just talking the talk.
Technology Talent
On a more down-to-earth level PricewaterhouseCoopers has released a survey that could mean good news for your pocket if you are a top-notch technology worker.
A survey of industry executives by the firm found that they pinpointed intense competition from both established companies and new ventures, and the fierce battle for talent as their most significant challenges.
Fierce battles for talent means top dollar if you're good. While the pace of change in the tech industry has moderated, executives say they must remain flexible in their strategies, business models and cultures.
Competition from well-established companies was cited by 48 percent of respondents as the top potential risk they face, followed by attracting employees and expertise (42 percent) and emergence of new start-up competitors (31 percent).
The survey also found that executives believe the pace of change in the technology industry is slowing. Respondents listed convergence to digital services (75 percent) and economic expansion in Europe (64 percent), China (63 percent) and India (62 percent as having the greatest positive impact on technology companies over the next ten years.
Royal Gazette, Be ahead of the curve - October 12, 2005
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