People are a fundamental building block of any TQM organisation. The only point at which true responsibility for quality can lie is with the people actually doing the job or carrying out the process. The complexity of most processes in an organisation places them beyond the control of any one individual, so the only efficient way to tackle process improvement or re-design is through teamwork.  

When properly managed and developed, teamwork improves processes and produces results quickly and economically through the free exchange of ideas, information, knowledge and data. It is an essential component of a total quality organisation, building trust, improving communication and developing a culture of interdependence, rather than one of independence.  

The section covers the roles within teams, the stages of team development, a model for teamwork and techniques to ensure effective teamwork. 108Kb