The Coming Demise of Teamwork

The Coming Demise of Teamwork

By Paul Rux, Ph.D.

This short essay explores the causes, effects, and likely response to the coming demise of teamwork because of the growing lack of job tenure.  Daniel Pink forecast this growing trend toward solo practitioners instead of teams in his classic 2001 study Free Agent Nation.  He foresaw how relentless changes in technology and corporate profits would combine to reduce workers en masse to the level of “office temps.”  It is hard to build teamwork around “office temps” who constantly come and go. Yes, the pop culture of sports lauds teamwork, but this should not blind us to emerging workplace realities.

For instance, Jerold Apps forecast the demise of tenure – and with it teamwork – in education in his 1994 classic Leadership for the Emerging Age.    Today, 75% of college teachers   are adjuncts, “throw-away” widgets (Huffington Post, 2013). With such loss of tenure, Apps foresaw the collapse of teamwork.  Instead of trying to build teamwork, Apps advised keying on and coaching individuals with special innovative talents as the way to gain competitive edge in the future.  Forget teamwork.  Instead, coach creative “stars.”

More and more, workers are not around long enough to “form, storm, norm, and perform” – the classic model for creating teamwork by Bruce Tuckman (pp. 384-399). The powerful trend toward “freelance” workplaces signals the coming demise of teamwork.   Get ready to move, re-skill, and coach innovative individuals as leaders.

Apps, Jerold (1994).  Leadership for the Emerging Age:  Transforming practice in Adult and Continuing Education.  San Francisco:  Jossey-Bass.

Kingkade, Tyler (2013).  AAUP:  Don’t Cut Adjunct Hours to Avoid Obamacare Requirements. Huffington Post, May 15, 2013.

Pink, Daniel (2001).  Free Agent Nation:  The Future of Working for Yourself.  New York:  Warner Books.

Tuckman, Bruce (1965). Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing.  Psychological Bulletin, 63, 384-399.

Author’s Biography

Paul Rux, Ph.D. (Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis, University of Wisconsin - Madison) is a lifelong professional educator.  He also consults on management (www.paulrux.net)  .  He serves on the State Leadership Council of the National Federation of Independent Business / Wisconsin, which lobbies for over 13,500 small business owners in the state.  He is a member of the World Future Society and Rotary International.  Dr. Rux also serves on the Business Intelligence Board of the Chief Learning Officer journal. He lives in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, an ex-urb of Madison, Wisconsin, the state capital.     

CONTACT:  Paul Rux, Ph.D., www.paulrux.net, paulrux@paulrux.net , Phone 608-437-8980. US Mail: 405 Lake Street, Mount Horeb, Wisconsin 53572-1629.

Western Civilization at a Crossroad

Hi Paul,

 

Unfortunately the wealth gap can keep growing if seen on a global scale. The empires have always used colonies to subsidize internal standards of living and it is only when the empires decline that the internal gaps in wealth become troubling. In 1965 America GIs could live off base in Germany and drive a Porsche if they wished. By the 1980s they could only afford to live on base and shop at the PX as Europeans caught up to the American Empire. American tourists used to dominate the world market. Having just returned from Europe it is striking that I met not one American but lots of Asians. In Canada American visitors are no longer a priority because they spend a fraction- about 1/3 of what Asian visitors spend. Americans are better off than in 1950 but their relative position in the world has changed and that puts the focus on internal gaps. Psychologically this is a well established phenomenon: a relatively lower wage hurts far more than a nominally lower wage as long as you make more than the next guy.

 

The empire has the costs of maintaining the structure for an elite who are unwilling to pay for it.

 

The myths of "free enterprise" - there has never been such a condition- perpetuate a Utopian dream of easy money for everyone. Globalization has undermined the nation state to a point where the laws are written by corporations who have no national loyalty. They are the new empires and the citizens of countries are patsies to these corporate behemoths- most agricultural subsidies go to large corporations (read ethanol), most science subsidies go to large corporations, even private prisons are subsidized (a good private prison is where the "customers" keep coming back.

Most egregiously, the military are run for the benefit of corporations -read Haliburton- with $200 hammers and a propaganda machine that keeps people in terror while more people are committing suicide each year for various reasons despite almost no visible terrorist threat.

 

We no longer talk of citizens, but rather taxpayers and our focus is on spending ( making a living) rather than making a life worth living. Our language has been co-opted by the true believers (Hoffer) in money and the message is broadcast through advertising which is the air we breathe well beyond anything Orwell presented in 1984, Stalin was able to achieve through brutality and murder by the millions, or Goebbels with the Nazis. Obesity, drug addiction, fanatic sports aimless "malling "are all symptoms of this social malaise. Remember 'the lonely crowd'.?

 

The correction is happening. We will eventually need to find a way to help people live lives, build communities and societies rather than give them "freedom' to flail about in a world governed by forces they can't even imagine let alone control.

 

This isn't an American, but rather a western challenge. With 25% educated youth unemployed in most of the West there is great potential for social unrest like in the 30s. The 'Freeters' in Japan are a cautionary tale.

Need for Decent Wages

Walter, you restate my father's position.  Give a man a job with decent wages and he will know what to do with the money.  My father survived the depression and was the only person in his family at the time who had any kind of income.  In effect, he supported all of them, although they produced some food on their small family farm.  When I was in Wiarton, the guidance counselor, the late John Johnson, who grew up in Sudbury, served in World War II, and was one of the few NDP supporters, openly anyway, there, put it this way.  "Give a man a decent wage and he will purchase food, medical care, housing, and piano lessons for his kids."  Both my father and John understood the need for worker purchasing power to drive economics and provide humane standards of living.  Yes, I agree.  Wages are central. 

Hope for the Future

Today, your humble servant attended a gathering of very powerful political figures in his home state of Wisconsin.  Before the meeting started, one of them asked me about what it is like teaching online students like you.  In brief, this is what I answered.  "I am impressed with them.  They have jobs.  They have families.  They have studies.  The time pressures on them are huge, and I admire them for coping with these pressures.  It is not easy for them.  However, they are going to invent the future; it is very exciting to help them as best I can to do this.  They keep me fresh.  They give me hope for the future."  I thank you for sharing your professional journey with me.  You are special.  Thank you.  Dr. Rux

100% Planning

Ronda, this is excellent!   Your humble servant learned a hard lesson about planning earlier this year.  Machiavelli taught that we should never show projects "half done."  I made this mistake.  I did not complete all of the planning homework for a business opportunity before inviting close associates to join me.  Well, when I completed the planning homework for the venture, I knew it would not, could not work.  Meanwhile, I had destroyed credibility with some very close friends, associates.  Yes, plan, plan, plan - completely - before communicating it!  Dr. Rux

An Exception to the Rule

Ronda, your humble servant does not do this very often.  He does, however, when a student of exceptional abilities comes his way.  You are exactly this kind of student!  It is hard to impress this writer; you do.  You have great talents and you are wise to develop them, as you are through the doctoral program.  I know I shall always be proud to say, “Yes, Ronda was my student.”  Keep up your good work and realize your dream.  Dr. Rux

 

Bean Counting

Gentle people, your humble servant here makes no claim to be the world's greatest "bean counter;" from time to time he overlooks proper entry of grades.  Things "fall between cracks" at times.  Therefore, please let me know if your records do not jibe with our online grade book.  As a rule, it is oversight on this end.  I thank you for your patient feedback about this to date as needed.  Dr. Rux