Blake Sports Apparel and Switch Activewear Bringing the Executive Team Together Case Solution

1. Define the characteristics and structure of successful teams. Describe how independent teams are vital to organizational success.

For Blake Sports Apparel, teamwork is very important for the company to reach not only its potential targets but also the company's growth. For a successful team, there should be some characteristics that they must have. Beginning with leadership, it is important to not only direct the team but also to help it solve problems and conflicts so that the whole work process is smooth and easygoing. Secondly, there needs to be proper communication between the whole team which means that the information should be shared with all team members equally so that everyone is on the same page while working together. This causes there to be collaboration among the team members so that the team remains a unit. Lastly, there should be diversity in the team to have more creativity and efficiency. There should not be just a team full of men or just women but a good mix of both, along with some analytical thinkers and some critical things to actually get the best results.

Having independent teams can be helpful for Blake Sports Apparel in many ways; they can not only reduce the risk of having to roll back if the work is not successful, and they also help to get work done faster, but these can only be possible if the management of these teams choose their members wisely and also make their roles clear for each of the members. This is because teams are made to reach a common goal for which the team itself is only accountable. Many companies might use them as they seem easy to manage and get the job done, but an improper team made can cause major issues for a business.

2. Discuss the important factors to consider when leading teams within the various levels of an organization. Discuss specifically which factors are important to consider when leading teams at the executive level.

The common techniques that Blake Sports Apparel should follow while coordinating and leading teams include making a structure, planning out tasks, communicating decisions and aligning everything.

By creating a clear chain of command, an efficient workflow may be created. Everyone will know what to do if job duties and associated tasks are spelled out in clear terms. By creating an organizational chart, everyone will know who to call if something goes wrong. Project coordinators often need to create detailed blueprints to outline the effort required to produce their sports goods. They use the methods that expert groups like the Project Management Institute advise. They contend that the project manager establishes the goals and collects stakeholder requirements during the planning stage to organize the team and focus the work. There won't be any misunderstandings about what needs to be done and when it needs to be done because team members may check the project's specifics.

Conflicts, delays, and disagreements are avoided with effective communication. Project managers may promote successful communication through regular team meetings, the distribution of status updates, and the recording of decisions. Influencing and inspiring team members to follow set policies and procedures to ensure smooth operations is a common component of effective leadership. It often takes scheduling frequent meetings to share information and utilizing written communication to document processes to coordinate the actions of several personnel, especially when they are not in the same location or time zone. A new product requires strategy and time to develop. Several teams may be working simultaneously to meet a tight deadline. A strong liaison is necessary to effectively coordinate the efforts and make sure that supplies are ordered and delivered in time for usage in manufacturing operations.

3. Describe the aspects that are essential in identifying appropriate members for teams and ensuring the teams are successfully launched.