is applied to different organizational goals. Work teams are the most common form of team. Work teams are the typical work units that perform the day-to-day operations of the organization. These teams are usually goal and objective oriented or, as Thompson (et al, 2000) notes, ôfairly well-defined æwork to be doneÆö (23).
Task teams are of a different nature than daily operations work units in that they are typically formed and applied to resolve a specific problem or challenge. In other words, there is a given purpose for the design of task teams. Unlike work teams, task teams are ôcross functionalö in that ôthe whole idea of the team is to get as many different ideas about a given problem or opportunity as possibleö (Thompson, et al, 2000, 21). These teams must be carefully crafted since their success depends upon the right mix of members who are willing to collaborate. Different power levels and mixes, different mindsets and worldviews, and time deadlines dependent upon the amount of ôrequired thinking outside the boxö are all important considerations when forming task groups (Thompson, et al, 2000, 21).
Management teams are the third type of team and perhaps the most difficult to form successfully. Thompson (et al, 2000) argues that the reason for this is simply the fact that management teams heave the ôleast obviousö purpose of all three teams (23). Management teams must do real work together in that the success of such groups often impacts the development of the entire organization. Management teams still have tasks to perform and they must help integrate the different work units and work throughout the organization. However, the main purpose of a management team according to Thompson (et al, 2000) is ôto provide synthesis to organizational goals and activities. Team members must leave their functional identities at the door and deal with the organization as a whole if they are to develop into a te...