|
|
Development Team Building program in Volkswagen AutoEuropa |
|
I. CONTEXT
The logistics team (27 people, 3 hierarchical levels) of Volkswagen AutoEuropa in Portugal had a team that was very successful over the past few years.
In anticipation of future difficulties, (handling more supplies /product from external suppliers), the company put into place structural changes that consequently modified certain roles and responsibilities in the team. It was, therefore, timely to have a team building program.
In order to measure the effectiveness of this program, we suggested the TPI (Team Performance Indicator),
a tool adapted by Stucki and enhanced by the logistics team of VW AutoEuropa.
Objectives of the program:
- Develop self-responsibility (less top-down delegation) |
| |
| |
II. IMMEDIATE GAINS FOR PARTICIPANTS AND THE COMPANY
|
| Participants |
Company |
- More confidence among team members
- Clearer roles et responsibilities
- Better conflict resolution
- Team members informed more effectively |
- Greater efficiency
- Better capacity to anticipate and handle changes
|
|
| |
| |
III. PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Preparation started in August 2003, the teambuilding seminar in September 2003, and measurement of the results and the follow-up in January 2004. |
| |
| ACTIVITY |
CONTENTS |
| Preparation |
- Meetings with the head of the team to define
objective
- Invitation to team members, with an explanation of
seminar objectives, questionnaire TPI and
addressing their expectations and fears |
| Two-day Seminar |
- Current status
- Results of TPI
- Team development through shared lived
experiences and Kolb's Learning Circle Model
- Revision of Action Plans
- Define a behaviour chart targeted to improve weak
points drawn from the TPI |
| Measuring the Results |
- Questionnaire TPI |
| Follow-up (half-day) |
- Discussion on the results and future challenges for
the team |
|
| |
| |
IV. SUMMARY OF THE RESULTS
The TPI Questionnaire showed improvement in every point analysed. The table below is an excerpt from the TPI, illustrating the types of questions asked.
Questionnaire - Team Indicator
To what extent are the following statements true? |
| |
 |
True
September 2003 |
January 2004 |
not true
September 2003 |
January 2004 |
| 1. |
Team members in our team don't really
interact in a free and open way. |
34,7% |
22,8% |
65,3% |
77,2% |
| 2. |
The team members have an unclear notion of their roles & responsibilities within the team. |
26% |
13,7% |
74% |
86,3% |
| 3. |
Important issues are often neglected. |
29,7% |
9,1% |
70,3% |
90,9% |
| 4. |
Conflicts between team members are mostly
not properly dealt with. |
48,2% |
22,8% |
51,8% |
77,2% |
| 5. |
Team members who have been criticized often have the feeling that they lose face. |
52% |
47,7% |
48% |
52,3% |
| 6. |
We hardly ever take time to discuss working
methods, responsibilities and possible
improvements. |
38% |
22,8% |
62% |
77,2% |
| 7. |
Team members don't share work experiences in an efficient way. |
44,5% |
31,9% |
55,5% |
68,1% |
|
|
|
|
