Team Effectiveness

The work of modern institutions and organizations relies on teams. From the invention of new technologies to leadership for solving complex societal problems, the effectiveness of collaboration in teams underpins our most important efforts. Real, interacting teams—as compared to individuals working independently of one another—offer real promise for solving important... read moreproblems facing organizations and societies, for creating new knowledge, and for generating new ideas, products, and solutions.

But the very importance of teams creates a dilemma. Yes, real teams have more resources such as knowledge, experience, and capabilities, and they have the potential for synergy among members such as uniquely invented strategies and mutual teaching and learning. But teams frequently fail to live up to all their considerable potential.

Understanding why—and what the essential actions are that those who lead and work in teams can take to increase the chances of superb collaboration—is the focus of this series of lectures. From creating the conditions for small groups to learn, decide, and perform superbly, to creating a context for collaborative relations between groups, this series draws on the work of the leading thinkers of our time to address the core challenges to great collaboration.