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ASSESSMENT ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF TEAM WORK TO THE PERFORMANCE OF ORGANIZATION

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study

It is an innate longing in almost every human being to desire for praises out of personal accomplishments. Humans naturally desire to be seen and appreciated for every feat they attain. This kind of tendency most often drive many to focus on “what I am able to do” at the expense of “what we could achieve.” Traditionally, emphasis on pride and personal achievement is more pronounced often in the workplace. One of the realities that encourage this is the societal leaning towards giving more prominence to the celebration of individuals more than that of the team. However, in more recent developments, team building has emerged as an important topic in the current business climate as organizations are now tilting towards team-based structures to stimulate further improvements to their productivity, profitability and service quality (Fapohunda, 2013).

In the workplace, nobody actually gets anything done without the inputs of others, even though only few are at the forefront of the project. Many at times, managers take credit for works done by their team. Nevertheless, the saying that two heads are better than one holds true largely. Cook (1998) talks of a growing consensus among scholars in the world that even though organizations get works done through individuals, their super achievement lies in the attainment of set goals through teams (teamwork). Therefore, the importance of teamwork to business performance optimization cannot be overemphasized, and people should be cheered to work together to be able to develop new ideas, products, processes, and methods through creative methods (Ooko et al., 2015).

Thompson (2008, p. 4) describes team as “a group of people who are interdependent with respect to information, resources, knowledge and skills and who seek to combine their efforts to achieve a common goal.” A team is not defined by the number of people involved but by the synergy they put into their work. As the name portrays, we have teamwork when a group of persons come together to work towards achieving a set goal. In this way, it is evident that teamwork brings about productivity. Business tends to yield more in an environment where teamwork is pronounced. This resonates with the findings of Froebel and Marchington, 2005 that those organizations which focus more on teams have results in increased employee performance and greater productivity.

Time and resources are of essence when it comes to measuring performance. Alan (2008) claims that productivity is the rate at which an employer, company or country produces goods and the amount, produced compared with how much time, work and money is needed to produce them. Mathis and Jackson, 2009 says that employee performance is associated with quantity of output; qualify timeliness of output, presence /attendance on the job, efficiency and effectiveness of work completed. The measurement of efficiency often accompanies that of effectiveness. So the performance of an organization is not always about success with the work alone, but getting it done within the shortest time possible while utilizing the minimal amount of resources. Hussain et al. (2011) gives the impression that without teamwork houses take long to build, government collapse, companies outshined by their competitors in the market and people lose their inspiration. This puts teamwork as a strength necessary to strike a balance between effectiveness and efficiency in organizational performance. When there is no healthy balance between effectiveness and efficiency profits cannot be maximized. Teamwork is equally importance for durability and maintenance of inspiration. Iron sharpens iron and one man sharpens another, says the Holy Book (Proverb 27:17). Teamwork brings out the best even in individuals. Jain (2009) corroborates this by explaining that team members need to learn how to help one another, help other team members realize their true potential, and create an environment that allows everyone to go beyond their limitations. Teamwork relieves burden in organizational setting and prevents burn out because it allows workloads to be broken into sizeable tasks for individuals to carry out. This relief enhances optimal performance. In the story of creation, God gave precedence to the notion of teamwork by example. As great as God that created the universe is, He neither exist alone nor work without company. God exists in company and worked as a team as reflected in His call to “Let US make man in our image…” (emphasis mine) (Genesis 1:26). This gives credence to the significance of teamwork.

Agarwal & Adjirackor (2016) define organization as “a social unit of people that is structured and managed to meet a need or to pursue collective goals or organization is a systematic arrangement of people to accomplish the same specific purpose.” People, goals and systems constitute every organizational set up. The developmental challenges of many organizations today could be traced to underutilization of teamwork. Askari et al. (2020) reveals that “organizational progress is achieved by having people who are constantly looking for ways to work intelligently, both individually and organizationally.” Ingram 2000 concludes that the good manager is the one who assigns the responsibilities to his/her subordinates in form of a group or team in order to take maximum output from them. Teamwork is necessary for all types of organization including non-profit organizations (Pfaff and Huddleston, 2003). It is high time organizations that desire a developmental turn around in their business embraced teamwork so as to enjoy its competitive advantage.

1.2     Statement of the Problem

Over time, scholars have investigated the nexus between teamwork and the performance of organization from different standpoint. Subsequently, with the current reality in the corporate world, it has become essential more than ever before for every organization that yearns for optimal performance to utilize the concept of teamwork. Collaboration makes for increased productivity, solves problems, foster relationships and brings about outstanding organizational performance on the overall. While many have swam with the tides, some employers and organizations are yet to come to the appreciation of teamwork, especially non-profit organization. Furthermore, the perception of employees who make up the team in a work group is fundamental to achieving results. Teamwork comes from team members knowing the expected outcome and where the outcomes fit in the whole organization's strategic plan (Bacon and Blyton, 2006). If the team members lack proper perception, they will only breed poor attitude and low team spirit which will compromise the success of the organization in the long run. Hence the need to further assess the contribution of teamwork to the performance of an organization with reference to that group where there is paucity of scholarship, namely non-profit organizations.

1.3     Objectives of the Study

This study assesses the contribution of teamwork to the performance of organization. This is with a view to examining the relevance of achieving effectiveness in teamwork via proper employee perception. The specific objectives of this study are to:

(i)  identify the mechanisms of teamwork in an organizational setting;

(ii)  examine the effect of teamwork on organizational performance in non-profit organization; and

(iii)  evaluate the impacts of employee perception towards the effectiveness of teamwork.

1.4     Research Questions

1.  What are the mechanisms of teamwork in an organizational setting?

2.  What are the effects of teamwork on performance in non-profit organization?

3.  What are the impacts of employee perception on the effectiveness of teamwork?

1.5     Research Hypothesis

Ho: Teamwork has no effects on performance in non-profit organization.

Hi: Teamwork has effect on performance in non-profit organization.

1.6     Significance of the Study

This study seeks to probe the relationship between teamwork and performance of organization. It unearths the possible effects of teamwork on the performance of non-profit organization. Moreover, the work examines the effects of employee perception on the effectiveness of teamwork. The findings of the study will be expedient to employers of labor in non-profit organizations in understanding how effective teamwork contribute positively to the performance of their venture. It would also increase the body of knowledge focused on non-profit organizations.

1.7     Scope of the Study

This research work will be conducted on the tie between teamwork and performance of selected non-profit organizations in Lagos state. The study will use data between year 2017 and 2021 so as to have a range of figures sufficient to establish a claim.

1.8     Limitations of the Study

Financial constraints happen to be a major factor against the successful execution of this research work. Also, there appears to be a limit to the level of information the respondents are willing to divulge. Notwithstanding, due diligence is pursued to ensure that those lapses do not have a deficient bearing on the outcome of this study.

1.9     Definition of Terms

Team: Team is a group of people that come together for the achievement of a common goal or target.

Teamwork: teamwork is the body of efforts of a group of people coming together to work towards a mutual goal.

Performance: Performance is the execution of an action. It refers to carrying out assigned tasks. Performance is work output.

Organization: Organization refers to a legal entity constituted by a group of people bond by a particular purpose.

Non-profit organization: Non-profit organization as a legal entity is operated for public or social benefit as against a profit generating business.