The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

Overview

Research studies suggest that employees who indicated better interpersonal relationships with supervisors and co-workers report higher levels of job satisfaction (Valerius L., Shinew, K. & Waut, J. (1996). Job satisfaction and interpersonal relationships often develop as a result of teamwork within organizations. Hence, contemporary organizations have placed an increasing emphasis on the structure of work activity around teams for strategic objectives such as higher productivity, quality improvements, innovation, and speed.

The organizational restructuring of the 21st century has led to a greater interdependence among co-workers and employees who realize that "no man is an island". The interdependence among co-workers serves as an important motivator because each person is dependent upon the other for a task completion. Many individuals obtain a strong sense of belonging to their respective work teams, and place significant value on the relationships formed with team members. As such, teamwork in organizations not only increases job satisfaction, but also motivates employees to achieve higher levels of individual performance.

In this course, you will learn the differences between group and teams, as well as the different types of teams that are commonly created to achieve specific objectives. You will also learn some of the advantages and disadvantages of working in a team environment, how to achieve team cohesiveness and the causes of conflict between team members.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of ten (10) questions at the end of the course to obtain PDH credits.

This course cannot be taken to fulfill your continuing education requirements in the state of New York since the course does not fall under the category of "Areas of Practice" or "Law/Ethics".

Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

  · To understand the differences between groups and teams in organizations
  · To identify the difference between group and team centered managers
  · To discuss the various types of teams
  · To explain the general stages of team development
  · To explain the meaning of team cohesiveness
  · To discuss the advantages and disadvantages of teams
  · To understand the causes of conflict within and among teams

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

This course cannot be taken to fulfill your continuing education requirements in the state of New York since the course does not fall under the category of "Areas of Practice" or "Law/Ethics".

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.

Please Note: Continuing Education credits for this course are awarded as PDH (Professional Development Hour Credits).