Page 30 - Effective group discussion theory and practice by Adams, Katherine H. Brilhart, John K. Galanes, Gloria J

The Small Groups in Everyone’s Life 13

81 percent of manufacturing organizations and 79 percent of Fortune 1000 compa-
nies use self-managed teams. 33

Top Management Teams (TMTs)
Top management teams (TMTs), compared to self-managed work groups, encompass Top Management
the upper echelon of management. Their goal is not to deliver goods or services but Team (TMT)
34
to lead an organization. Many of today’s organizations are so diversified that they A team composed of
cannot succeed using the typical chief executive officer (CEO)–chief operating officer top officers of an
(COO) model of managing. Instead, a team is formed (sometimes called the C-suite) organization charged
because members’ pooled talent exceeds that of the CEO and the COO. In other with making complex
cases, a CEO may not want to select a COO, so he or she forms a team of managers strategic decisions.
to do the job of operating a company. TMTs have substantial power because they
comprise some of the most influential members of the larger organization. They make
highly complex strategic decisions with far-reaching consequences to the entire orga-
nization and themselves. For example, the Caterpillar TMT’s decision to provide the
U.S. government with heavy equipment during World War II resulted in the develop-
ment of a worldwide distribution network that even today is central to Caterpillar’s
corporate success. 35
In the same way that no group is purely primary or secondary, most small groups
you encounter will combine elements of all four group types just described—activity,
personal growth, learning, and problem solving. Several years ago, the Springfield
City Council established an ad hoc task force to investigate and recommend solutions
to the city’s solid waste disposal problem. Members had to educate themselves about
solid waste, various disposal options, and pros and cons of the options before they
could make their recommendations to the city council. They also had to manage their
own resources of time and information and be concerned with the comprehensive
quality of life in the Springfield area. Thus, this group comprised elements of a
learning group, problem-solving group, quality circle, and self-managed work group.

Recap: A Quick Review

roups are pervasive in our everyday lives. They can be classified
Gby purpose.
1. Primary groups, like family and friends, help us meet our needs for belonging and
openness.
2. Secondary groups, those commonly referred to as task groups, help us meet our
needs for control and achievement.
3. Subtypes of primary and secondary groups often mix the purposes of both.
These include activity, personal growth, educational, and problem-solving groups
such as committees, quality control circles, self-managed work groups, and top
management teams.

gal37018_ch01_001_020.indd 13 3/28/18 12:33 PM