As members of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra arrive for rehearsal you would not think anything out of the ordinary. The usual number of musicians are gathering, and there is the usual banter as they take their places and start to tune up. It is only when the practice begins that you notice what...

Recounts the experiences of a line manager and consultant, and his attempts to transform performance appraisal for the benefit of the individual, manager and organization. Describes the methods by which appraisal was handed back to the staff, using upward feedback from internal customers and...

Provides an insight into the processes of action research. Refers to a case 40 years ago, long before the term “action research” was coined. The process was used to redesign a company’s marketing effort in Sweden. Discusses a team approach to bringing about change. Describes how the team...

The purpose is to analyse the impact of team responsibility (the division of job regulation tasks between team leader and team members) on team performance. It bases an analysis on 36 case studies in The Netherlands which are known to have implemented team‐based work. The case studies were...

Teams are vital for business survival. When top teams ask for team‐building what do they really mean? More importantly, what should they get? Explores the many possible objectives of team development and suggests a diagnostic framework for identifying the priority areas. Identifies the key...

To survive the 1990s, senior managers need to develop and maintain a culture of team working. This will prove to be the single most dynamic force which will equip organizations to adapt to the new realities of the business world. Careful planning must take place, if managers are to maximize the...

Discusses the development of the Team Management System. Describes the Team Management Wheel with its nine key roles from Controller Inspector to Creator Innovator. Explains the role of the linker manager and the production of a personal profile for each team member. Concludes it provides an...

This article is the second part of a two part series. The first half of the article described a case study which illustrates the use of several techniques for developing inter‐departmental and inter‐level collaboration. The company manufactures consumer products and was modernising its...

Many organisations are under pressure to diversify products, respond more aggressively to competitors, and reduce inventories. Businesses which operate along traditional, formal lines often cannot adapt sufficiently quickly to these new demands. To be more responsive, people in different...