When the team finally completes that last briefing, there is always a bittersweet sense of accomplishment coupled with the reluctance to say good-bye. Many relationships formed within these teams continue long after the team disbands. There are several factors that separate teams from groups. Within a group, individuals establish a set of behaviors called roles. These roles set expectations governing relationships.
Roles often serve as source of confusion and conflict.
While on the other hand, teams have a shared understanding on how to perform their role. While teams have an identity, groups do not. It is almost impossible to establish the sense of cohesion that characterizes a team without this fundamental step. A team has a clear understanding about what constitutes the team's 'work' and why it is important. They can describe a picture of what the team needs to achieve, and the norms and values that will guide them.