> Date: 24 Feb 96 21:09:12 EST
> From: "Dr. Scott J. Simmerman" <74170.1061@compuserve.com>
>
<<<< some deletions here >>>>
>
> When we play at a game or engage groups of diverse people in an exercise
> of some type, it's my obsevation that the group can (and do) 'bond' within
> minutes. (Note: We do organizational development games)
>
> 1) Their behavior becomes goal directed (if the missions and goals are
> clear),
>
> 2) their motivation levels increase dramatically (if they understand the
> task and have sufficient resources and time),
>
> 3) their group dysfunctional group dynamics are often minimized and,
>
> 3) they interact in a way to generate a team result.
>
> A professional sports team will often demonstrate teamwork, shared focus
> on success of the group, high levels of peer support for improvement.
> Then after winning the championship, all of this often breaks down and the
> team often shows a tendency for dysfunction. Few teams can maintain a
> consistently high level of achievement and it is not simply a matter of
> talent (exceptions seem to be the Chicago Bulls, The Boston Celtics of
> yesteryear, and a few others -- I'm obviously American). Will the South
> African Rugby and Soccer teams have recently achieved global success --
> will the situational factors support their results long-term?
>
<<< some more deletions here >>>
The comparison of sports teams to teams business and other forms
of organization may not be too good. Any sports is a finite activity.
There are not any variations to the rules. Even when Michael Jordan does
not get the ball in the basket is ruled as a "no basket." You either get
the ball where it is supposed to be, or it is not accepted. I don't think
that this applies to business, where under certain conditions the job
could be done close to perfect, but not necessarily perfect, and is still
accepted. In business, a ball may not be a basket but if is close enough,
performance can be considered as acceptable. Of course, there are areas
of business in which one has to show a very precise performance.
The range is wider in the business situation, and if one finds a
better way to perform the task, which adds more value to it , the new way
can be adopted. In sports one can think of better ways to socore a basket
in basketball, or a bhetter way to hit the ball in baseball, but those
ways cannot be adopted if they are against the pre-established and
universality accepted rules!
Ivan
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