The statement that ideally all work teams should have seven members, give or take one or two, is generally accurate. While team size can depend on the task and composition, research has shown that smaller teams between 6-9 members operate most effectively. Larger teams face issues with coordination, engagement, and influence among members. Effectiveness is highest when teams are small enough for meaningful involvement from all, while providing the necessary competencies and perspectives to accomplish goals.

1. ADM 551
Organizational Behavior
Topic 8:Teams
Prepared by: Nur Fatin Fatihah
Binti Ahmad Ruzi
Prepared For: En Muhammad
Fuad Bin Abd. Karim 1

2. QUESTION 2:
“Ideally, all work team should
have seven members, give or
take one or two”
Discuss the accuracy of this
statement.
2

3. MEANING
a team will However, a
Its depend on
consist team can be
the task given
more than
seven one or two
according to
people. the situation.
people
3

4. Team Definition:
Groups two or more people who interact and
influence each other, are mutually
accountable for achieving common goals
associated with organizational
objectives, and perceived themselves as a
social entity within an organization.1
• 1. McShane, S. L & Von Glinow, M. A.(2010) Organizational Bahavior: Emerging Knowledge and Practice for The Real World.
4
Fifth Edition. New York: McGraw Hill.

5. Argument
Wharton management professor Jennifer S. Mueller, said that
the more people who pulled on a rope, the less effort each individual
contributed.
Size is not necessarily the first consideration when putting together an
effective team.
The importance things are
1. The type of task the team need to perform. will define whom you
want to hire, what type of skills you are looking for.
2. Team composition. What are the skills of the people needed to be
translated into action? That would include everything from work
style to personal style to knowledge base and making sure that
they are appropriate to the task.
3. Lastly size is being considered. 5

6. Accuracy in this statement
• Generally, teams should be large enough to provide necessary
competencies and perspectives to perform the work.
• Yet, small enough to maintain efficient coordination and
meaningful involvement of each member.
Sun Microsystems executive explain Small teams operates
effectively because they have less process loss.
• Members of smaller teams also tend to fell more engaged
because they get to know their teammates,
• have more influence on the group norms and goals and
• feel more responsible for the team success and failures.
6

7. Even a management calls the LARGE TEAM as ONE it is very
difficult the member to interact and influence each other and
hard to achieve the organization goals and objective.
By the president of AOL Technologies Ray Oglethorpe
• He said ideally your team should have seven to nine
member. If you have more than 15 0r 20 , you’re dead: The
connection between team member are too hard too make.
Size is the key.
• Have the smallest number of people possible in each team.
• Another rule: No delegates. You don’t want people take the
team ideas but someone else get the authorization.
7

8. Team effectiveness
A team is effective when
Fulfills
objectives Fulfills Maintains team’s
assigned to the satisfaction and survival
team well being of
team member
• Must seek the
objective of the • Must have satisfaction
(when achieve the • Have to get long
team. If we fail to with the team
aim) and well being of
seek the team member (work member
objective the each other and
team. We will fail cooperate each other)
do the task
8

9. Conclusion
The statement is reliable and accurate because a
team will be effective when have 6 to 7 people in
one team. Less or more can make the task would not
perform well.
9

10. References
• 1. McShane, S. L & Von Glinow, M. A.(2010) Organizational Bahavior: Emerging
Knowledge and Practice for The Real World. Fifth Edition. New York: McGraw
Hill.
• 2.Schermerhorn, Hunt, Osborn (2005). The Organizational Behavior. John
Wiley & Sons inc.
• 3. Stephen P. Robbin, Organisational Behaviour: Global and Southern African
Perspectives.
• 4. Is Your Team Too Big? Too Small? What's the Right Number?. Retrived
October 15, 2012 from
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1501
• 5. The Ideal Collaborative Team. Retrived October 14, 2012 from
http://www.ideachampions.com/downloads/collaborationresults.pdf
• 6. Understanding Team - What is a Team ? Retrived October 15, 2012 from 10
http://www.managementstudyguide.com/understanding-team.htm

11. Thank you 
Question
and Answer
session
11