Rank Order of How Companies Benefit From Teams: (TPT, from 1988 survey of 51 companies in Fortune Top 100) 

• 1: Greater productivity 
• 1: Effective use of resources 
• 1: Better problem solving 
• 2: Better quality products and services 
• 3: Creativity and innovation 
• 3: Higher-quality decisions 

Primary reasons cited in 1990 survey for moving toward self-directed teams, by companies that are: (ET) 

• Quality (38%) 
• Productivity (22%) 
• Reduced Operating Costs (17%) 
• Job Satisfaction (12%) 
• Restructuring (5%) 
• Other (6%) 

Benefits or Self-Directed Work Teams: (PRIM) 

• Improved Service and Quality 
• Reduced Overhead 
• Increased Productivity 
• Increased Morale 

Benefits to the Organization: (20Q) 

• More Efficiency and Productivity 
• Higher Quality 
• World-class Products 
• Better Customer Service ... faster, more responsive 
• Constant Improvement ... of processes 
• Working Smarter 
• Better able to make Decisions ... able to compete in time 
• Utilization of everyone's Brains, Commitment, Creativity 
• Better Communication ... up, down, sideways 
• A more Satisfying and Effective Workplace 
• A Sense of Belonging and Commitment 
• Constant Growth ... of the organization and its people 

Benefits to the Team Members: (20Q) 

• Empowerment to do what is right and needed 
• More Information, Knowledge, and Decision-Making capability 
• More Involvement in Decisions 
• Ability to Solve Problems 
• Ability to Innovate Change 
• More Personal Pride in the quality of the product or service 
• A feeling of Ownership in the company 
• The Camaraderie and Support or a Team effort 
• Rewards ... tied to productivity 
• Individual Growth and Development ... constant training 
• Tapping into one's Leadership abilities 
• Variety and Challenge 

"Teams are not ends in themselves; they are a means by which to achieve other organizational goals" (ET) 

Alan Brinder: "Self-directed work teams improve productivity, because deep employee involvement builds intense commitment to corporate success" ... "most companies report 20-40% gains in productivity after 18 months" (SDWT) 

BusinessWeek, 1989: "GE expects to realize a 40-50% improvement in productivity by organizing its work force into teams" (DSWT)