Review
"A marvellous work of integration, retaining the authoritative, imaginative and intensely practical character of the first edition, this new edition has incorporated the very latest insights into a complex and challenging area with great clarity. It is full of interesting ideas and applications, lucidly expounded and creatively formatted for students and practitioners alike."
Nigel Nicholson, London Business School <!--end-->
"In a very accessible style this book conveys essential research about why teams are the way they are. On this strong foundation it offers clear prescriptions for making teams better - for their members, for the organisations in which they work. This deep-rooted advice-giving is enlivened with lots of first-hand wisdom, proving West to be the rare master of research and practice." Rick Guzzo Ph.D., Worldwide Partner, Mercer Human Resource Consulting
"The second edition of Effective Teamwork is a gem - easy to read, comprehensive, and authoritative. Mike West covers all of the main issues of team formation, functioning, innovation, and performance from a distinctly psychological perspective. Essential reading for any introductory course into teamworking on BSc Management, MBA modules, or MSc in Occupational Psychology." Neil Anderson, PhD, Professor of Organizational Psychology, University of Amsterdam
"I found this book an excellent read. It manages to pack in all the relevant information and ideas that would be useful to a busy line manager looking for all the critical points that would help to develop or maintain a team. It also cuts through a lot of the mythology associated with "what makes a good team" and I'm sure most line managers and HR professionals will find it valuable." Roger Williams, Operations Strategy Manager, United Utilities PLC
"Effective Teamwork is applied psychology at its best, without jargon, self-importance or intellectual pomposity. West is never guilty of 'overcomplicating what are relatively simple aspects of human behaviour'. His brief asides on complex topics such as strategy, listening, emotional intelligence, leadership and trust are absolute gems, conveying significant wisdom in a single paragraph. Fundamental to great teamworking is 'practice and reflect', a mantra that West has honed to perfection. Although the book is immensely rich in content, it is also easy to assimilate ... If you have any interest whatsoever in the pursuit of shared human endeavour in business, read Effective Teamwork. This is an indispensable reference work by an expert. It is also an extremely good read." Janey Howl, founding partner of First Class Coach, The Psychologist, October 2004, Vol. 17, No. 10
Review
Imagine seven billion individuals on earth … most of whom at some time experience life as members of teams, especially at work but elsewhere as well … and imagine the incalculable combinations of people and situations that make for teams. Where can we possibly look for advice on how to get so many different teams to be effective?
Look first to Michael West’s new book. It maintains a laser focus on what it really means for a team to be effective. It embraces the complexity of things that matter – leadership, goals, support, technology to name just a few – and it consistently delivers evidence-based advice on the surest ways of making teamwork effective.
—Rick Guzzo, Principal and Worldwide Partner, Mercer Human Resources Consulting
Yet again, in the 4th edition of this deservedly popular pocket book, Michael West has produced a masterly digest of knowledge from a sprawling literature on this vitally important topic. Insights, examples and learning points emerge from first page to last, including, new to this edition, the very latest research on virtual and top management teams. It is unusual for books to successfully bridge the academic and practical divide, but this one has equal appeal for scholars wanting the lowdown on the state of the field, and for practicing managers trying to figure out what goes right and what goes wrong with teams in their organisations. You will not find a finer, more concise, authoritative and clearer assembly of available knowledge on teams anywhere.
—Nigel Nicholson, Professor of Organisational Behavior, London Business School, UK; author of Managing the Human Animal and Family Wars
This new edition of Michael West’s book helps us understand what a team is and what we can do to improve teams' functioning. The book covers the most important factors impacting on teams’ operation and outcomes. It is based on solid scientific knowledge and the author’s extensive applied experience in the field. It provides readers with useful tools that can be implemented to help managers lead and develop their teams. Based on my own experience as director of a university service, I can tell that these tools, and the knowledge on which they are based, really work.
—Vicente González-Romá, Director of the Observatory of Job Insertion and Occupational Guidance, University of Valencia, Spain; Editor of the European Journal of Work & Organizational Psychology
Once again Michael has brought together the great management and leadership concepts of this decade to provide a practical, well evidenced contribution to leading successful organisations. With a clear and insightful understanding of organisation realities, Michael's understanding of team work, staff engagement and heath and well being are combined to provide an extremely helpful practitioner and leadership guide supported by all the research, evidence and exercise material we've come to expect. In a world where the focus of personal and organisational psychology is often remedial, this books engages us in using positive psychology to enhance the quality of life for staff through the achievement of shared goals.
—Dean Royles, Director, NHS Employers, UK
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
