New York University
Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
Spring 2012
PADM-GP.4112
Building Effective Teams
Dr. Charlotte Wagenberg
email: charlotte.wagenberg@nyu.edu
Location: Tisch Building, LC-9
Schedule: Fridays, Jan. 27 and Feb. 3
9:00am – 5:00pm
Office Hours: By appointment
Course Description
As businesses face unprecedented challenges to survive and succeed, many are rethinking the
way they are structured, the way they are managed and the way work gets done. As a result,
many have transformed their hierarchical structure to one with horizontal and cross-functional
focus using teams as an effective way to get work done. This trend recognizes the unique
potential of teams to deliver results and to meet business challenges successfully. In order to
utilize teams with the desired result, attention must be paid to how and why teams are
assembled, launched, managed and rewarded. This course is also designed to prepare students
for their Capstone project teams.
This two-day course provides the fundamental principles and methods required to create highperforming work, project, Capstone, and/or problem-solving teams. Topics covered will include:
moving from group to team; stages of team development; identifying the key competencies for
successful team functioning; critical roles and responsibilities on a team; ensuring team
productivity; aligning corporate culture with team culture; techniques for using a systematic
problem-solving methodology; and troubleshooting common team problems. In addition,
particular attention will be paid to the critical success factors of Capstone teams - a unique type
of team that has its own special challenges.
NOTE: In order to be able to apply course concepts immediately, the final assignment for
this course is a team project which is due several weeks after the course ends.
Course Objectives
This course is designed to provide the skills to:
•launch and manage a team effectively
•establish team roles and responsibilities effectively
•understand stages of team development and their impact
•manage team dynamics and team meetings
•assess team functioning and performance
•utilize team troubleshooting techniques
Text - to be read prior to the first class session:
Aranda, E. , Aranda, L., Conlon, K., Teams: Structure, Process, Culture, Politics.
New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1998 (this text is out of print but available from Unique Copy,
252 Greene St. for $25.70 or online).
Building Effective Teams
PADM-GP.4112
Spring, 2012
Page 2
Course Outline
This course is conducted in a workshop format in two, all-day sessions using small group
activities, simulations, lecture, and discussion to cover the topics below.
Day One
•Introductions, individual objectives
•Course overview and objectives
•Introduction to teams
•Team formation, infrastructure and management
•Roles and responsibilities on a team
•Stages of team development
•Assessing team performance
Day One - Articles to be downloaded, links provided on Blackboard:
Building the Emotional Intelligence of Groups
Tapping into Teams
How Management Teams Can Have a Good Fight
The Tough Work of Turning Around a Team
Letters to the Editor: The Tough Work of Turning Around a Team
How to Kill a Team’s Creativity
The Team That Wasn’t
Day Two
•Team Dynamics - small group simulation
•Preparing an organization for team culture
•Meeting management guidelines
•Conflict resolution techniques
•Applying project management tools and techniques
•Application exercise
•Strategies for solving common team problems
Day Two - Articles to be downloaded, links provided on Blackboard:
Speeding Up Team Learning
Can Absence Make a Team Grow Stronger?
Expert answers to “The Team That Wasn’t” case (to be distributed in class)
Add’l Team Readings - Articles to be downloaded, links provided on Blackboard:
Building Effective Teams in Real Time
The Three Essentials of an Effective Team
Building and Leading Your Team
Managing a Team vs. Managing Individuals on the Team
Why Some Teams Succeed (and So Many Don't)
Teams: Solving the Sophomore Slump
What Makes Teams Click
Building Effective Teams
PADM-GP.4112
Assignments:
Spring, 2012
Page 3
In order to ensure everyone comes into this two-session course with similar grounding, it is
required that the text “Teams: Structure, Process, Culture and Politics” by E. Aranda, L. Aranda,
and K. Conlon is read prior to the first class. This text is out of print but available from Unique
Copy, 252 Greene St.
for $25.70. It may also be available online. For the second class, there is
a written, individual assignment based on course readings. The final assignment is a team project
which is due on February 23. Please note only hard copy will be accepted on all written
assignments (Please use 12-point font, one-inch margins, double space, number the pages and
put your mailbox number at the top.)
Please note that Blackboard’s Library Research tab, under Bibliography & Footnote Style
Guide, provides guidance for how to correctly document citations, references, bibliographies, etc.
in written academic work. You are expected to follow a format of your choosing consistently
throughout a given written assignment.
Course Requirements and Expectations:
All assignments and readings should be completed before class. Students should be actively
engaged in class discussions, clearly demonstrating through comments that readings and
assignments have been completed and thoughtful reflection has occurred. For class
participation, your goal should be to contribute to the discussion and build upon the comments of
your classmates. Think about moving the discussion forward.
Grading for this course is determined by substantive, informed class participation (30%), the
individual written assignment (30%), the team project (30%) and individual team debrief (10%).
Neither absences nor late submissions of assignments is allowed. Late arrival or early
departure, lack of preparation and/or uneven substantive participation in class discussions will
have a negative impact on your course grade.
Teamwork: It is also expected that you demonstrate good faith and collaborative team
behavior while working on your final team assignment as you apply course content to
your efforts.
Additional Readings:
There is an extensive literature on teams. The list below is selected to
provide students with classic references for additional reading.
Banner, R.W. Team Troubleshooter. Palo Alto, CA: Davis-Black Pub., 2000.
Blake, R., J. Mouton, and R. Allen. Spectacular Teamwork: How To Develop the
Leadership Skills for Team Success. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1987.
Buchholz, S., T. Roth, and K. Hess. Creating the High-Performance Team. New York:
John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1987.
Capezio, P. Winning Teams. Franklin Lakes, NJ: Career Press, 1998.
Carew, D., E. Parisi-Carew, and K. Blanchard. Building High Performing Teams Team Building Materials. Escondido, CA: Blanchard Training, 1990.
Building Effective Teams
PADM-GP.4112
Spring, 2012
Page 4
Chang, R.Y., G. Bader, A. Bloom. Measuring Team Performance. CA: Richard Chang
Assoc., Inc., 1994.
Fisher, K. Leading Self-Directed Work Teams. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1993.
Hackett, D., C. Martin. Facilitation Skills for Team Leaders. Menlo Park, CA: Crisp
Publications, 1993.
Hackman, J. Richard. Leading Teams: Setting the Stage for Great Performances.
Boston: Harvard Business School Publishing, 2002.
Harrington-Mackin, D. Teambuilding Tool Kit. New York: AMACOM, 1994.
Harrington-Mackin, D. Keeping the Team Going. New York: AMACOM, 1996.
Harshman, C.L. & S. Phillips. Teaming Up. San Diego, CA: Pfeiffer & Co., 1994.
Harvard Business Essentials: Creating Teams with an Edge: The Complete Skill Set to
Build Powerful and Influential Teams. Boston: Harvard Business School Pub., 2004.
Hoevemeyer, V.A. “How Effective Is Your Team?” Training and Development Journal,
September, 1993, pp. 67-72.
Katzenbach, J. and D. Smith. The Wisdom of Teams. Boston: Harvard Business
School Press, 1993; The Work of Teams. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1998.
Kayser, T.A. Building Team Power. New York: Irwin Publishing, 1994.
Kelly Keith, P. Team Decision-Making Techniques. CA: Richard Chang Ass., 1994. Keleman,
K.S. Jumpstarting Your Team. San Diego, CA: Pfeiffer & Co., 1994.
LaFasto, F. and C. E. Larson. When Teams Work Best. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
Publishing, 2001.
Larson, C.E. and F.M. LaFasto. TeamWork: What Must Go Right/What Can Go Wrong.
Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, Inc., 1989.
Lencioni, P. The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable. SF: Jossey-Bass, 2002.
Mohrman, S.A., S. Cohen, A.M. Mohrman, Jr. Designing Team-Based Organizations.
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1995.
Nadler, D., J. Spencer, et al. Executive Teams. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass,1998.
Parker, G.M. Team Players and Teamwork. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass,1990.
Polzer, J.T. Leading Teams Note, Module Note. Harvard Bus. Publishing. Sept. 1, 2009.
Quick, T.L. Successful Team Building. New York: AMACOM, 1992.
Rayner, S.R. Team Traps. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1996.
Rees, F. How to Lead Work Teams. San Diego, CA: Pfeiffer &Co., 1991.
Romick, D.A. Breakthrough Teamwork. Chicago: Irwin Professional Publishing, 1996.
Saint, S. & J. Lawson. Rules for Reaching Consensus. San Diego, CA: Pfeiffer, 1994.
Sanborn, M. Teambuilt: Making Teamwork Work. New York: Master Media Ltd, 1992.
Schwarz, R.M. The Skilled Facilitator. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Inc., 1994.
Stone, Patton and Heen. Difficult Conversations. New York, NY:Viking Press, 1999.
Sherriton, J. & J. Stern. Corporate Culture/Team Culture. New York: AMACOM, 1997.
Tjosvold, D. Working Together to Get Things Done. MA: D.C. Heath and Co., 1986.
Varney, G. Building Productive Teams. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Inc., 1989.
Wellins, R., D. Schaaf, and K. Harper Shomo. Succeeding With Teams: 101 Tips That Really
Work. Minneapolis, MN: Lakewood Books, 1994.
Wellins, R, W.C. Byham, and G.R. Dixon. Inside Teams. San Francisco, CA: JosseyBass Inc., 1994.