Chapter 13: Managing Groups and Teams

Complete set of links to companies

Teamwork continues to be important in corporate settings, but it is also employed in a wide variety of non-business organizations. View the web sites of the Navy Seals and the Tokyo String Quartet, and then answer the following questions:

1. What evidence of the use of teams can be found at each organization’s web site?
2. What evidence of conflict can be found at each organization’s web site? What methods do you think are employed by these organizations as they manage conflict?

Internet Exercise

On December 2nd of 2001, Enron, a Houston-based reseller of commodities, declared bankruptcy. Factors leading up to the company’s collapse included a too-cozy relationship with the firm’s external auditors, lack of full financial disclosure, and sizable high-risk investments in turbulent industries.

1. What are some of Enron’s behavioral norms? For example, consider the firing of Sherron S. Watkins, an Enron vice president who warned CEO Kenneth Lay of unethical accounting practices at the firm.
2. In what ways were these norms productive and useful for the firm? In what ways were the norms counterproductive or not useful for the firm?
3. Do you believe that Enron’s culture was cohesive? What were the consequences of that level of cohesiveness? Consider the consequences for Enron, Enron employees, and Enron shareholders.

Explore Further

Since the discovery of Enron’s accounting and other problems, and the firm’s declaration of bankruptcy, many other US firms are anxious to establish their commitment to honesty and full disclosure. Consider firms such as Marriott International, Sprint, and Best Buy, which have extensive non-audit relationships with their auditors, as did Enron. Visit these companies’ web sites. Do you find any evidence that these companies are concerned about behavioral norms or cohesiveness? What actions could these firms take to manage these concerns?