However, organizations often don't know when, and if, they will downsize and whether it will be a one-time event or occur repeatedly. In this case, it does not pay to wait to form teams to manage the work processes. Significant gains in customer satisfaction and profitability can be made through effective teamwork. In David Noer's book Healing the Wounds, he reports that too many companies focus entirely on assisting those who are leaving the organization in finding new jobs, providing severance packages and counseling for adjustment. This usually takes the form of reluctance to take on new challenges or introduce new products or ideas, and fear of proposing changes.
Survivors tend to become consumed by seeking information and reassurance rather than productivity.
Thirst for information. Noer describes an unquenchable need for any type of information, whether formal communications or through the company grapevine. Blaming others, usually management. Everyone is looking for someone else to blame. It is the opposite reaction from a sense of empowerment, i.e., someone else is in control, someone else is to blame.