SELF-DIRECTED R-AND-D TEAMS - WHAT MAKES THEM EFFECTIVE

Teams are used extensively and successfully in every aspect of industr ial R&D. Despite little formal training, both the team members and the ir sponsors find that the team's output usually meets, and often excee ds, expectations. Clear and important goals, clean communications and supportive management are key factors leading to team success. Meddlin g managers and fuzzy goals tend to lead to failure. Training team rewa rds and recognition do not seem to be central to team effectiveness. T eams like their managers to be accessible and to provide resources and support, but not to dictate how the team should function. These requi rements can be difficult to balance, but management nonetheless got pr etty good grades from the teams in this study, and the teams got prett y good grades from their managers and sponsors.