AWWA JOINT53561

Once considered a "new paradigm", teams are becoming a workplace standard, asorganizations recognize the benefits inherent in diverse input and groupownership in planning, problem solving and decision making. While ongoingcommitment to team processes remains strong, the approach is sometimes found tobe less beneficial than expected. Most often this stems from the misperceptionthat bringing a group together is the same thing as forming a team. It is not.Creating an effective team takes forethought, planning, and work. This paperpresents a series of planning steps that can be used to set the framework forpositive, productive teams. Not every step is appropriate or necessary for everyteam. However, groupings can be selected to fit any particular division, unit ororganization and various cultures and issues within those sub-units.