Business organizations, of course, don’t have a monopoly on effective groups. Basketball teams and military squadrons are teams, as is a government policy group such as the president’s cabinet, the leadership of a church or civic organization, or even a student committee. 

Exercise Task 

1. Use online resources to identify an example of a real-life team. Be sure to choose one that meets two criteria: (a) it’s not part of a for-profit business and (b) you can argue that it’s highly effective. 

2. Determine the reasons for the team’s effectiveness. (Hint: You might look for websites sponsored by the group itself, review online news sources for current articles about it, or enter the group name in a search engine.) Consider team characteristics and activities, such as role structures, norms, cohesiveness, and conflict management. 

3. What can a manager learn from the characteristics and activities of this particular team? How might the factors that contribute to this team’s success be adopted in a business setting?