The current catchword of the business community is teamwork. Recently, debates have raged concerning the effectiveness of team-based organizations. Little consensus regarding the viability of teams has been reached. Advocates and opponents both have legitimate points supporting their arguments. Creating a team-based company is complex and must be approached with caution and careful forethought.
Teams are in essence the democratization of the hierarchical business world.
Control no longer rests with one individual, but with many individuals working towards a common goal. A recurrent trait associated with team structures is the elimination of a pyramid corporate structure. Rather than building a company upon successive levels of employees, managers, and executives, teams operate on a collapsed model. This model emphasizes shared responsibility and parity among members. Often, team structures reduce managerial levels.