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Theories of team effectiveness

There are many theories that identify the reasons for effective and ineffective team performance; a few of those are identified.

Steiner's model of group effectiveness

Steiner proposed a model that identifies the success of a team is based on the following formula.

Actual productivity = potential productivity - losses due to faulty processes

Formula Explanation
Actual productivity Is the team's result e.g. the actual score of the game, quality of skill, intensity of work rate on the day.
Potential productivity Is the team's best possible performance depending on how individuals perform physically, mentally, technically and tactically on the day.
Faulty processes Are the things that go wrong and prevent the team from achieving their potential productivity e.g. communication and interaction as a result there is a lack of co-ordination and motivational loss.


Example

In a five member rowing team if there is one person that is not trying as hard as the others there will be a lack of co-ordination, and as such, if the team are not working together they may lose their place in the race which will have a significant effect on the place that they finish.