Case 7

1. How could an understanding of the stages of group development assist

Christine in leadership situations such as this one?
The stages of group development guides members through the
process of getting to know each other. Through the process of
team development expectations, behaviors, norms, roles, and
responsibilities are established early on. Members of a team that
understand the the stages will find it easier to develop a mature
team that will have the potential to be high performers.
2. What should Christine understand about individual membership in groups
in order to build group processes that are supportive of her work groups
performance?
Christine would have benefited if she would have known how
people relate to each other in groups. Christine should identify
the strengths and weaknesses of her team members to help
assign roles and responsibilities. Based on personalities and
individual needs Christine could have assigned roles that would
have allowed everyone to participate and contribute equally.
3. Is Christine an effective group leader in this case? Why or why not?
In this case, Christine is not an effective Team leader because she
failed to focus on her teams needs. As the coordinator she had
many opportunities to discuss the problems she was having with
Mike but never expressed the need for his active participation.
Christine could avoid problems like these in the future if she
learns to establish norms in the beginning and recognize the
strengths of her group.

Case 8
1. In what ways do Evernhams leadership tactics prove consistent with the
characteristics and ideas on high performance teams and teamwork
advanced in the text?
Characteristics of High
Performance Team
Collectively accountable
Commitment to targeted performance
results
Strong core values, guide the team
members attitudes and behaviors in
consistent directions
Members in the team have the right
mix of skills
Collective intelligence
High team members engagement
since high satisfaction

Evernhams Leadership Tactics

Emphasizing team performance on
individual performance
One-second advantage with each pit
stop
Painstaking preparation, egoless
teamwork, and thoroughly original
strategizing
The outstanding improvement in
performance of rainbow warriors
IQ team + circle of strength
Car won, bonus shared

2. How might the 2008 season have shaped Steve Letarte and his crew, their
cohesiveness, and team norms?
Because they did not win anythings and did not continue success,
Lost cohesiveness Evernham created, and Establish lower
standard team norms.
3. What can someone who takes over a highly successful team from a leader
like Evernham do to maintain and even improve team success in the
future?
Concerned Issues
- Although Rainbow Warriors acquire great achievements, What
about some challenges?
- Everyones responsibility in Rainbow Warriors is very clear.
Maybe team need some regconition?
Suggestions
-

Conduct a variety of team building activities, (Communication

Activities, Problems-solving Activities, Planning and Adapting
Activities, and Trust Game)
- Build up EQ
4. Research question: Pit crews are often in the news. See what you can find
out about pit crew performance. Ask: What distinguishes the high
performance pit crews from the also rans?
Technical norms
- Clarity of roles
- Speed and Precision
- Act as a team instead of seven all-stars.
- Get plan and practice, practice, practice
- Trust
Pit Crew U
- Using motor racing and pit stops as tools for training concept
- A combination between classroom education and hand-on
experimental learning
- Feedback
- focused leadership
- sense of ownership