Juanita Has Just Been Asked to Head a Cross-Functional Team

Essay

Juanita has just been asked to head a cross-functional team at work, assuming a directive role. Members of her team exhibit various behaviors: Tom speaks long and often, Robert tries to keep tensions low, Jim is never prepared, Monica constantly complains, and Kumar tries to make sure everyone is heard. As they meet the first couple of times, Robert and Kumar push to develop strategies to achieve their goals.
Discuss the various negative and positive roles found in the group. In what ways can the negative roles be diminished? At what stage of team development are Robert and Kumar operating, and what stages should the team go through before strategies are developed?