SELF-DIRECTED TEAMS

Team Building Glossary

Team Building — Self-Directed Teams

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Information on Self-Directed Teams

Self-Directed (or Self-Managing) Teams are teams that have been structured to manage and coordinate their own activities and make many of the day-to-day decisions that would have traditionally been made by a supervisor or manager. They usually have responsibility for a complete piece of work (such as engine assembly) and they work quite closely and interdependently.
     A self-directed team (STD) is a group of employees who have day-to-day responsibility for managing themselves and the work they do with a minimum of direct [outside] supervision. Members of self-directed teams typically handle job assignments; plan and schedule work, make production and/or service-related decisions, and take action on problems.
     In short, self-directed team (STD):

  • have responsibility
  • are accountable
  • manage themselves
  • work as a team

    •      Self-Directed Teams usually are responsible for a definable product or service, or some complete part of a product or service. That is, they have a unique purpose and defined set of goals and objectives that sets them apart from other teams or groups in the organisation, but which demonstrably contributes to the organisation’s overall mission.
         Key distinguishing characteristics setting Self-Directed Teams (or self-directing teams) apart from other forms of work teams and groups include their high levels of shared purpose, self-coordination and direction, accountability, and inter-reliant and synergistic operation.
         Teamwork and cooperation, along with shared goals, are necessary but insufficient to teams truly self-directing. Self-Directed Teams require a structure that every member understands and that works for the organisation, and which optimises team interreliance, autonomy, and productivity. Self-Directed Teams integrate notions and principles of teamwork, cooperation, and empowerment.


    Other topics in our resources on Team Building related to Self-Directed Teams include: 
     
  • High Performance Teams
  • Self-managing Team
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  • Sociotechnical Systems (STS)
  • The Paradox of Self Management
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  • Peritus Approach
  • Peritus Team

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