Scholarly Source

SpotlIGht on THe SecReTS of GReaT TeamS

Spotlight

Artwork Andy Gilmore, Hemicube

2011, digital drawing

How to master the

new art of teaming

by Amy C. Edmondson

Teamwork

On the Fly

If you wAtched the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, you probably

marveled at the Water Cube: that magnificent 340,000-squarefoot box framed in steel and covered with semitransparent, ecoefficient blue bubbles. Formally named the Beijing National

Aquatics Center, the Water Cube hosted swimming and diving

events, could hold 17,000 spectators, won prestigious engineering and design awards, and cost an estimated 10.2 billion

yuan. The structure was the joint effort of global design and

engineering company Arup, PTW Architects, the China State

Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), China Construction Design International, and dozens of contractors and

consultants. The goal was clear: Build an iconic structure to reflect Chinese culture, integrate with the site, and minimize energy

72 Harvard Business Review April 2012

hbr.org

SPOTLIGHT ON THE SECRETS OF GREAT TEAMS

far-flung employees from various disciplines and

divisions but also external specialists and stakeholders, only to disband them when they’ve achieved

their goal or when a new opportunity arises. More

and more people in nearly every industry and type

of company are now working on multiple teams that

vary in duration, have a constantly shifting membership, and pursue moving targets. Product design,

patient care, strategy development, pharmaceutical

research, and rescue operations are just a few of the

domains in which teaming is essential.

This evolution of teamwork presents serious

challenges. In fact, it can lead to chaos. But employees and organizations that learn how to team well—

by embracing several project management and team

leadership principles—can reap important bene ts.

Teaming helps individuals acquire knowledge, skills,

and networks. And it lets companies accelerate...