World Class Teams

Working Across Borders

Wiley, 1998

15 min read

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What's inside?

The company of the future will have no time for bureaucracy, so it will need teams that cut across departments, the entire organization and the world. And by the way — the future is now.

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Lynda C. McDermott, Nolan Brawley and William W. Waite present an excellent guide to creating effective cross-functional teams that operate across international boundaries. This hands-on book is directed to those involved in setting up, leading or coaching teams. While the authors include some intriguing examples of successful teams, this is more of a workbook that describes the procedures for setting up teams and measuring their performance. Practical executives will find lists of questions to ask and steps to take in this well-organized description of the managerial process, from setting up teams to rewarding successful efforts. The book is clearly written, despite some long, unwieldy sentences. getAbstract recommends this solid book to managers and executives, team leaders, human resource and organizational development professionals, and other participants who contribute to or benefit from the work of international teams.

Summary

Teams as a Competitive Strategy

Teams are growing in importance because they help your organization function within a few guiding principles that are crucial in today’s new marketplace. They harness continuous change, global scope, networked cross-specialization and speed, all principles that organizations must take into account to survive and flourish today.

A "fast company" that wants to respond quickly across borders must have fluid work structures and processes, must think globally but act locally - or "glocalize" as the Japanese call it - and must promote "bottom up" thinking through employee empowerment, particularly among knowledge workers. To be such a company, your firm must encourage flexibility, embrace diversity and learning, and maintain an employee focus on "just-in-time results." Teams are particularly adaptable to putting these principles into practice.

World class teams represent a complex, cross-functional type of teamwork, in which members work at different locations and even in different countries. These teams of knowledge workers can be assigned to global projects where their intellectual capital is very valuable to your organization. Members...

About the Authors

Lynda C. McDermott is president of EquiPro International. An author and speaker, she is frequently quoted as an industry expert by the business press, including the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and Business Week. She has served on the board of the American Society for Training and Development. Nolan Brawley is Director of Pharmaceutical Training and Development for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. He consults internationally with 52 international subsidiaries on team and leadership development. William W. Waite is executive vice president of EquiPro International, was formerly director of CIGNA Corp., and has consulted extensively with executive teams in more than 25 countries.

Lynda C. McDermott, Nolan Brawley and William W. Waite

World Class Teams

Working Across Borders

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Teams as a Competitive Strategy

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