Managers used to believe that teamwork was always the way to structure employees in order to get optimal organizational outcomes. Today’s best managers know that sometimes teamwork can get in the way of good performance. Instead of unifying different groups, teamwork can sometimes have unintended negative effects on team member attitudes and performance. Negative teamwork results can happen when employees get rewards for being good, specialized, and individualistic performers, and at the same time get rewards when being good, integrated team players. Today’s best managers are aware of this potential problem and help structure rewards to lessen these conflicts.
Source: Finn, R. 2008. The language of teamwork: Reproducing professional divisions in the operating theatre. Human Relations, 61, 103-130.
