Network Teams
The team has always been integral to the traditional hierarchical business model, but, as organisations shift towards agile operating models, workforces are now expected to work through flexible, scalable networks of teams.
Networks are a natural method to organize output because they balance individual freedom with collective coordination. Overhead is reduced as the organisation gains the flexibility to create and disband project teams as necessary. A contingent workforce is essential in leveraging this agility. In turn, there is an increasing requirement upon leaders to understand human networks, both business and social.
Replacing a hierarchical model for an organic, leader-centric model allows for greater collaboration and organisational health. When pressure is applied, team networks react by being more than just robust, their performance actually improves as more pressure is exerted.