Teamwork in new technology implementation

摘要

The use of multifunctional project teams to facilitate the introduction of new technologies into organisations is advocated by many academics and practitioners. This paper using survey data from 132 organisations attempts to clarify empirically the influence of such teamwork through analysis of the statistical associations between teamwork and the planning and implementation processes involved in technology adoption. The influence of teamwork is marked. Multifunctional project teams do expand the scope of issues considered, break down functional barriers and improve the quality of decisions made. However, these teams also soak up time and resources, which highlights the need for teams to operate more efficiently if they are to be more effective.