Challenges of Groups and Teams

Addressing Challenges of Groups and Teams

LDR 531

January 19, 2011

Donald Savell

Addressing Challenges of Groups and Teams

The WorldCom organization is a perfect example of how poor leadership can misguide a once successful organization down to the ground. Much like the captain of a ship, a preeminent leader sets the course, directs the crew, and ensures everyone emerges through the storm. (Saunders, 2008) Great leaders understand that no matter how well organized; the team they lead will experience challenges and difficlties. After all each team is, comprised of people who are not perfect and who have emotions and needs. In addition to all of the usual issues of teamwork, today’s leaders have to deal with globalization, flatter organizations, outsourcing, and contractors just to name a few things. The leadership team for this organization has recognized the need for an effective training plan in order to accomplish the goals set for the team and the projects they are currently working on.

A part of creating a successful training plan is recognizing the ineffective processes and practices that brought the company to the point of near demise. Some ineffective processes that have been identified by the leadership team are the management team of WorldCom did not take time transition these merged organizations into a smooth functioning business. They leadership team also did not ensure that all GAAP principles were met concerning assets, debts, good will, and other financial factors. Poor integration of the acquired companies resulted in numerous organizational problems such as senior management made little effort to develop a cooperative mindset among the various units of WorldCom and inter-unit struggles were allowed to undermine the development of a unified service delivery network.  (Moberg, 2003)

There were major accounting misrepresentations to account for the increasing stock performance. The fraudulent practices were...