Benefits of a problem solving team?

Answer 1

Benefits: a lot.

• Starting from the assumption that the Pope and the Farmer together know a bit more than the Pope alone (an old Italian say), teams create synergies: more knowledge, more support, more momentum. A well coordinated team may solve a problem more effectively and efficiently than an individual.
• Since most problems require a creative session to be solved effectively, teams are most fit to generate ideas through brainstorming or similar techniques. Ideas created by teams are definitely larger in number than those created by an individual - hence the probability of discovering a "winning" idea, apt to solve validly the problem, is much higher. Ideas can also be better developed in team, from the stage of an "embryo" idea to the stage of a winning idea.
• Teams may be excellent decision makers, if well coordinated. They are more capable of scrutinising, assessing, judging, evaluating ideas than an individual. Pro's and con's of of any idea and any proposed course of action can be identified faster and more effectively. The final solution to the problem may then be "the best" or at least "the optimal under the circumstances".
• Teams my be excellent planners of the implementation stage: the solution to be implemented can be analysed, rationalised, made feasible and economical in a better way than an individual could. Also: all possible snags that might be encountered during the implementation stage can be identified and overcome in advance.

The above benefits may, however, be associated to a number of drawbacks:

• Teams may loose momentum, direction (going out of theme) and energy during a problem solving session - for many reasons. Poor coordination may make things even worse.
• Teams may enthusiastically embark on a trip into a totally wrong track (through which the problem will never be solved effectively) and get stuck in that track for too long or forever (cause: "group thinking" phenomenon, allowed by lack of coordination).
• Teams may be bad decision makers for a number of reasons.
• Teams may be inefficient (too much time, efforts, energies dedicated to solve a rather straight forward problem).

In conclusion, solving problems effectively and efficiently in team requires a number of conditions to be met: experience, attitude, willingness/motivation, etc. and - most important - valid coordination.

Carlo Scodanibbio - Industrial Consultant