Self-Managed teams and small organisations

Abstract

The author of this research study is employed and manages a family business which is a micro-organization. Due to the constantly changing business environment, the author has always asked oneself how certain organizations manage to create and maintain competitive advantages despite the fierce competition. The author was always interested and fascinated by the Gestalt adage that states that the sum of the parts is greater than that of the whole. Thus the author intended to research teams and teamwork, and how self-managed work teams can create competitive advantages for local businessmen and entrepreneurs who are busy steering the organization through unchartered waters (DuBrin, 2006). In Malta, competition has increased considerably since Malta's accession into the European Union. The European Union was a very new experience for the much unprepared local businesses. As a result, many manufacturing enterprises either had to close down or started importing instead of manufacturing their wares. On the other hand many firms that operated within the services industry emerged as the business environment and the human capital available on the local market promoted their existence. The author commenced the research study by delving into the literature review and sought published research about how and why organizations act and engage themselves in certain organizational behaviours in order to create and maintain competitive advantages. Then the researcher focussed his attention on the literature that discussed and analysed small organizations. The discussion about small organizations debated the origins of small organizations, and their specific characteristics. Management styles adopted in small organizations were then studied. This led the researcher to continue to study management and employee competencies, and how these competencies affect organizational performance. To complete the literature review, the researcher then studied and discussed groups and teams; and how effective self-managed work teams, can be created and developed. Following the literature review, the researcher discussed the methodology used to generate, analyse and discuss data. The author chose to use a qualitative approach in order to explicate those thematic issues grounded in the raw data generated through the use of semi-structured interviews that enabled in-depth exploration of the phenomenon under study. The researcher then discussed and analysed the data and presented conclusions and recommendations.