The changing nature of work has given rise to team-based organization structures. For making teams effective, organizations should train their employees in teamwork skills regularly. Team building is one of the training interventions often used by practitioners. The present study aims to assess the impact of team-building and appreciative inquiry training interventions in a controlled experimental setting. The impact of the interventions was assessed on the following dependent variables: group communication, group decision making, group performance, and group membership satisfaction. The sample comprised of 90 scientists of a Research & Development organization, randomly allocated to experimental conditions. The results revealed a significant impact of both the interventions. The Mean scores of participants exposed to either of the interventions were more than control group except in group membership satisfaction, where mean scores of only the appreciative inquiry group participants were higher than the control group. The results highlight the importance of both interventions in organizations. The study has wide implications for organization development theory and practice.
AgaD. A., NoorderhavenN., & VallejoB. (2016). Transformational leadership and project success: The mediating role of team-building. International Journal of Project Management, 34(5), 806–818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2016.02.012
2.
AhmedH., YasirM., & MillerM. G. (2020). Analyzing appreciative inquiry as a model of change to build relational capital. Business & Economic Review, 12(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.22547/BER/12.1.1
3.
AkhavanP., & HosseiniS. M. (2016). Social capital, knowledge sharing, and innovation capability: An empirical study of R&D teams in Iran. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 28(1), 96–113. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537325.2015.1072622
4.
ArgoteL., AvenB. L., & KushJ. (2018). The effects of communication networks and turnover on transactive memory and group performance. Organization Science, 29(2), 191–206.
5.
ArgyrisC. (1962). Interpersonal competence and organizational effectiveness. Dorsey Press.
6.
BalesR. F. (1970). Personality and interpersonal behavior. Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
7.
BarczakG., GriffinA., & KahnK. B. (2009). Perspective: Trends and drivers of success in NPD practices: Results of the 2003 PDMA best practices study. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 26(1), 3–23. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5885.2009.00331.x
8.
BarkiH., & PinsonneaultA. (2001). Small group brainstorming and idea quality: Is electronic brainstorming the most effective approach?Small Group Research, 32(2), 158–205.
9.
BeerM. (1976). The technology of organization development. In DunnetteM. D. (Ed.), Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology. Rand McNally & Company.
10.
BerchicciL., & TucciC. L. (2010). There is more to market learning than gathering good information: The role of shared team values in radical product definition. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 27(7), 972–990. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5885.2010.00765.x
11.
BittermanB. J. (2011). Ice cream company: Simulating effective team roles. In BiechE. (Ed.), The 2011 Pfeiffer Annual Training (pp. 53–64). Wiley.
12.
BormannE. G. (1969). Discussion and group methods: Theory and practice. Harper & Row.
13.
BormannE. G. (1972). Fantasy and rhetorical vision: The rhetorical criticism of social reality. Quarterly Journal of Speech, 58(4), 396–407. https://doi.org/10.1080/00335637209383138
14.
BormannE. G. (1996). Symbolic convergence theory and communication in group decision making. In HirokawaR. Y. & PooleM. S. (Eds.), Communication and group decision making (pp. 81–112). Sage.
15.
BormannE. G., CraanJ. F., & ShieldsD. C. (1994). In defense of symbolic convergence theory: A look at the theory and its criticisms after two decades. Communication Theory, 4(4), 259–294. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2885.1994.tb00093.x
16.
BrannickM. T., PrinceC., & SalasE. (2005). Can PC-based systems enhance teamwork in the cockpit?The International Journal of Aviation Psychology, 15(2), 173–187. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327108ijap15024
17.
BrownT. M., & MillerC. E. (2000). Communication networks in task-performing groups: Effects of task complexity, time pressure, and interpersonal dominance. Small Group Research, 31(2), 131–157.
18.
BrunerM. W., & SpinkK. S. (2010). Evaluating a team building intervention in a youth exercise setting. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 14(4), 304–317. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018296
19.
BusheG. R. (1998). Appreciative inquiry with teams. Organization Development Journal, 16(3), 41–50.
20.
BusheG. R., & CoetzerG. (1995). Appreciative inquiry as a team development intervention: A controlled experiment. Journal of Applied Behavioural Science, 31(1), 19–31. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886395311004
21.
BusheG. R. & MarshakR. J.2016, The dialogic organization development approach to transformation and change. In RothwellW., StravrosJ. & SullivanR. (Eds.), Practicing organization development (4th ed., pp. 407–418). Wiley.
22.
ChuangC. H., JacksonS. E., & JiangY. (2016). Can knowledge-intensive teamwork be managed? Examining the roles of HRM systems, leadership, and tacit knowledge. Journal of Management, 42(2), 524–554. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206313478189
23.
CooperriderD. L., & SrivastavaS. (1987). Appreciative inquiry in organizational life. In WoodmanR. W. & PasmoreW. A. (Eds.), Research in organizational change and development: An annual series featuring advances in theory (Vol. 1, pp. 129–169). JAI Press.
24.
CooperriderD. L., & WhitneyD. (2001). A positive revolution in change. In CooperriderD. L., SorensonP., WhitneyD. & YeagerT. (Eds.), Appreciative inquiry: An emerging direction for organization development (pp. 9–29). Stipes.
25.
CooperriderD. L., WhitneyD. K., & StavrosJ. M. (2003). Appreciative inquiry handbook: The first in a series of AI workbooks for leaders of change (Vol. 1). Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
26.
CorriganS. (2019). Research review and notes appreciative inquiry, a lighthouse on a foggy path: Healthcare teams share success stories. Practitioner.
27.
DayalI., & ThomasJ. M. (1968). Operation KPE: Developing a new organization. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 4(4), 473–506. https://doi.org/10.1177/002188636800400405
28.
De JongB. A., DirksK. T., & GillespieN. (2016). Trust and team performance: A meta-analysis of main effects, moderators, and covariates. Journal of Applied Psychology, 101(8), 1134–1150. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/apl0000110
29.
DyerW. G. (1977). Team building: Issues and alternatives. Addison Wesley.
30.
EricksenJ., & DyerL. (2004). Right from the start: Exploring the effects of early team events on subsequent project team development and performance. Administrative Science Quarterly, 49(3), 438–471. https://doi.org/10.2307/4131442
31.
GigoneD., & HastieR. (1996). The impact of information on group judgement: A model and computer simulation. In WitteE. H. & DavisJ. H. (Eds.), Understanding group behavior: Consensual action by small groups, (Vol. 1, pp. 221–252). Psychology Press.
32.
HackmanJ. R., JonesL. E. & McGrathJ. E. (1967). A set of dimensions for describing the general properties of group–generated written passages. Psychological Bulletin, 67(6), 379–390. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0024647
33.
HackmanJ. R., & MorrisC. G. (1975). Group tasks, group interaction process, and group performance effectiveness: A review and proposed integration. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 8, 45–99.
34.
HackmanJ. R., & WagemanR. (2005). A theory of team coaching. Academy of Management Review, 30(2), 269–287. https://doi.org/10.2307/20159119
35.
HinszV. B., TindaleR. S., & VollrathD. A. (1997). The emerging conceptualization of groups as information processors. Psychological Bulletin, 121(1), 43–64. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.121.1.43
36.
HornsbyJ. S., SmithB. N., & GuptaJ. N. (1994). The impact of decision-making methodology on job evaluation outcomes: A look at three consensus approaches. Group & Organization Management, 19(1), 112–128. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059601194191006
37.
HungL., PhinneyA., ChaudhuryH., RodneyP., TabamoJ., & BohlD. (2018). Appreciative inquiry: Bridging research and practice in a hospital setting. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 17(1), 1609406918769444.
38.
KerrN. L., & TindaleR. S. (2004). Group performance and decision making. Annual Review of Psychology, 55, 623–655. http://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.55.090902.142009
39.
KramerM. W., KuoC. L., & DaileyJ. C. (1997). The impact of brainstorming techniques on subsequent group processes: Beyond generating ideas. Small Group Research, 28(2), 218–242. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496497282003
40.
LacerenzaC. N., MarlowS. L., TannenbaumS. I., & SalasE. (2018). Team development interventions: Evidence-based approaches for improving teamwork. American Psychologist, 73(4), 517. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000295
41.
LudemaJ. D. (2002). Appreciative storytelling: A narrative approach to organization development and change. In FryR., BarrettF., SeilingJ. & WhitneyD. (Eds.), Appreciative inquiry and organizational transformation: Reports from the field (pp. 239–261). Quorum Books.
42.
MarksM. A., SabellaM. J., BurkeC. S., & ZaccaroS. J. (2002). The impact of cross-training on team effectiveness. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87(1), 3–13. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.87.1.3
43.
McEwanD., & BeauchampM. R. (2020). Teamwork training in sport: A pilot intervention study. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, 32(2), 220–236. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200.2018.1518277
44.
McEwanD., RuissenG. R., EysM. A., ZumboB. D., & BeauchampM. R. (2017). The effectiveness of teamwork training on teamwork behaviors and team performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled interventions. PloS one, 12(1), e0169604. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0169604
45.
McGrathJ. E. (1964). Social psychology: A brief introduction. Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
46.
McGrathJ. E. (1984). Groups: Interaction and performance (Vol. 14). Prentice-Hall.
47.
MillerC. J., KimB., SilvermanA., & BauerM. S. (2018). A systematic review of team-building interventions in non-acute healthcare settings. BMC Health Services Research, 18(1), 146. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-2961-9
48.
National Geographic. (2011, July30). The story of earth TV movie-documentary. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1985159/
49.
OhJ., LeeH., & ZoH. (2019). The effect of leadership and teamwork on ISD project success. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 61(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/08874417.2019.1566804
50.
PainterG., PoseyP., AustromD., TenkasiR., BarrettB., & MerckB. (2016). Sociotechnical systems design: Coordination of virtual teamwork in innovation. Team Performance Management, 22(7/8), 354–369. https://doi.org/10.1108/TPM-12-2015-0060
51.
PaulusP. B., KohnN. W., ArdittiL. E., & KordeR. M. (2013). Understanding the group size effect in electronic brainstorming. Small Group Research, 44(3), 332–352.
52.
PeelleH. E.III. (2006). Appreciative inquiry and creative problem solving in cross-functional teams. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 42(4), 447–467. https://doi.org/10.1177/0021886306292479
53.
PollackJ., & MatousP. (2019). Testing the impact of targeted team building on project team communication using social network analysis. International Journal of Project Management, 37(3), 473–484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2019.02.005
54.
PolzerJ. T., MiltonL. P., & SwarmW. B.Jr., (2002). Capitalizing on diversity: Interpersonal congruence in small work groups. Administrative Science Quarterly, 47(2), 296–324. https://doi.org/10.2307/3094807
55.
SalasE., RosenM. A., BurkeC. S., & GoodwinG. F. (2009). The wisdom of collectives in organizations: An update of the teamwork competencies. In SalasE., GoodwinG. F. & BurkeC. S. (Eds.), The organizational frontiers series. Team effectiveness in complex organizations: Cross-disciplinary perspectives and approaches (pp. 39–79). Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
56.
SalasE., RozellD., MullenB., & DriskellJ. E. (1999). The effect of team building on performance: An integration. Small Group Research, 30(3), 309–329. https://doi.org/10.1177/104649649903000303
57.
SalasE., StaglK. C., & BurkeC. S. (2004). 25 years of team effectiveness in organizations: Research themes and emerging needs. In CooperC. L. & RobertsonI. T. (Eds.), International review of industrial and organizational psychology (Vol. 19, pp. 47–91). John Wiley & Sons.
58.
SenécalJ., LougheadT. M., & BloomG. A. (2008). A season-long team-building intervention: Examining the effect of team goal setting on cohesion. Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 30(2), 186–199. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.30.2.186
59.
SlaterS. F., MohrJ. J., & SenguptaS. (2014). Radical product innovation capability: Literature review, synthesis, and illustrative research propositions. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 31(3), 552–566. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpim.12113
60.
Smith-JentschK. A., Cannon-BowersJ. A., TannenbaumS. I., & SalasE. (2008). Guided team self-correction: Impacts on team mental models, processes, and effectiveness. Small Group Research, 39(3), 303–327. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496408317794
61.
StrausS. G., & McGrathJ. E. (1994). Does the medium matter? The interaction of task type and technology on group performance and member reactions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 79(1), 87.
62.
ValacichJ. S., DennisA. R., & NunamakerJ. F.Jr., (1992). Group size and anonymity effects on computer-mediated idea generation. Small Group Research, 23(1), 49–73. https://doi.org/10.1177/1046496492231004
63.
WatkinsJ. M.MohrB., & KellyR. (2011). Appreciative inquiry: Change at the speed of imagination (2nd ed.). Wiley.
64.
YiY. J. (2016). Effects of team-building on communication and teamwork among nursing students. International Nursing Review, 63(1), 33–40. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12224
