Teams are increasingly used in organizations worldwide, working either in person or via the Internet using various types of software for groups. Virtual teams can work efficiently and in a more cost-effective manner, avoiding the costs of travel, overnight stays, etc.
Read the dialogue and decide which successful team characteristics are present and at what stage of development the team is in: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, or Adjourning.
These are the team members in this fictional virtual scenario at Food Service Today (FST): Perry (breads, cereals, cookies), Dennis (beverage division), Ferris (gourmet bottled supplies), and May (commercial kitchen offerings) are brought together from four different divisions of a company that makes food and beverage products. They are tasked with finding a new product that will appeal to the largest number of consumers working from home.First team meeting for Food Service Today (FST) employees: Perry (breads, cereals, cookies), Dennis (beverage division), Ferris (gourmet bottled supplies), and May (commercial kitchen offerings).
Perry: “We have to come up with a meal that the stay-at-home workers will like and we need the prototype in two months.”
Dennis: “I’m Dennis by the way from the beverage division” Who are you?”
Perry: “Sorry, I’m Perry from the Bread and Cereals division. How about the rest of you, do you want to introduce yourselves?”
Ferris responds, “Sure, I’m Ferris from the gourmet bottled line. I’ve been with the company for 20 years.”
May chimes in, “Hi, I’m May and I’ve been with the commercial kitchens division for the past five years. I look forward to working with you all.”
Perry says, “Now that we have introduced ourselves, let’s brainstorm and see what ideas we have… anyone?”
May says, “How about a taco kit with tortillas, sauces, and precooked chicken or beef that they can make in the microwave?”
Perry, “That sounds like a possibility, especially since we already produce the tortillas. Anyone else?”
Ferris: “I don’t know that people who work at home will want to be making this kind of meal when they can just order out!”
Dennis: “Obviously you might not want to, Ferris, but I know my wife would like it. She wouldn’t have to spend so much time cooking!”
Perry: “Are we really just talking about female cooks versus males? It seems to me that it really doesn’t matter who makes this food, as long as it is easy to prepare and tasty.”
Dennis: “Well, in any case, I don’t know why I am here. Beverages have not even been suggested.”
Perry: “Okay let’s table this for now. We know our deadline and we need to come up with a meal idea for the virtual worker. So, let’s meet at the same time next week. Maybe some of you will have some more ideas.” Second Meeting:
Perry (breads, cereals, cookies): “I have thought about it and I think the taco idea has real merit!”
Dennis (beverage division): “It may, but why am I here? There is no beverage idea on the table?!”
Ferris (gourmet bottled supplies): “Then suggest away man! How about bottled margaritas?”
Dennis: “That has been done, Ferris, not too original!”
Perry: “Alright you two. Attack the problem, not the person. What about creating two types of margaritas: alcoholic and non-alcoholic–like a limeade?”
May (commercial kitchen offerings): “Great idea on the limeade, then the kids could drink it as well! What do you say, Dennis, could this be done?”
Dennis: “Sure I think we could manage to get a bottled limeade within our deadline for a prototype.”
Perry: “Okay, are we all in agreement then on a taco kit and limeade?
[Dennis, May, and Ferris all agree.]
Perry: “Great! So, for the next meeting, can I get a list of the ingredients needed and the costs involved? My department will work up the tortillas – maybe flour and corn. Ferris, can you get up the costs involved in the chili sauce?”
Ferris responds, “Sure, I think we should offer it in mild, medium, and hot chili sauces.”
Perry: “Good thinking Ferris! Dennis, can you tackle the bottled limeade costs?”
Dennis: “It should be fairly straightforward, sure!”
May: “I will look into the difference on the pricing for packaging chicken or beef and then maybe separate packages for the condiments like cilantro, sautéed onions, and cheese.”
Perry: “That works, thanks May!”
Dennis: “What about packaging? I know someone in the packaging department, I could ask them about box size pricing. We will probably market a six-pack of limeade to go with it, but separate from the meal.”
Perry: “Great suggestion Dennis. If you could follow up on the packaging that would be great. I think maybe next week I will include someone from the marketing department to give us some ideas on marketing this new meal with a beverage. Great progress, thanks for all of your input! See you next week at the same time.” Third and Fourth Meetings:
Meeting #3: The team comes together, discusses the costs involved, a possible price point, and discusses the marketing possibilities with the invited marketing manager. Then all four go off to work on their respective assignments to deliver a prototype for the next meeting. Before the next meeting, Ferris contacts Dennis to let him know that their department had started working on some labeling of South American-related products that might help with the bottling labels for the limeade.
Meeting #4 (three weeks later): Everyone brings a sample of their prototype to the meeting and everyone samples what has been created. Additionally, they invite the marketing director and the packaging specialist to come in and sample the prototypes as well. They all agree that the prototypes are very tasty and should be successful. They decide that they will package the meal with the six-pack of limeade, using the new marketing labels that Ferris and Dennis worked on. The marketing department, with help from Ferris, will submit it to the New Product Development Director for approval along with a breakdown of the costs, which Ferris and May will work on.
Two weeks later, they submit the products with the costs breakdown along with the projected profits from the marketing department, to the Director in the conference room as a team. The prototype is a success and everyone is praised by the Director for doing a stellar job.
The company decides to make these four employees a permanent new product team. The team members become disheartened as they like their current jobs, and they feel that they do not have the power to make some of the decisions that will need to be made. They feel their reward for doing a good job has been to give them a different job that they did not choose.
What should be done to motivate and empower them? Using your readings from this unit, address the following:
Checklist:
- Distinguish between the successful and unsuccessful team characteristics that are present in the overall scenario.
- Analyze where each stage of team development in the scenario meetings begins for forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Explain your reasoning.
- Provide the role that each team member played (see Chapter 11, Positive versus Negative Group Member Roles, p. 248).
- How did the team go about avoiding groupthink?
- Examine how you would increase the morale of the team members.
- Create a plan to empower this team as it transitions to the permanent new product team.
Create a 10–12 slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation with additional title and reference slides.
