Employee cooperation increases productivity.

Putting employees in work groups not only may increase productivity, job satisfaction, and quality of work, it saves money for companies by eliminating middle-management positions. According to Michael A. Campion, professor of management in Purdue University's Krannert Graduate School of Management, work groups are one of the current trends in business organizations.

"Virtually every large corporation in almost every type of industry is experimenting with work groups. A good deal of the frenzy is related to keeping up with the Joneses,' but it all boils down to the idea that employees might work better and get more done in groups than they would as individuals. Companies are finding that many factors within groups may positively affect satisfaction and productivity and save them money as well."

Job design plays a major role in the way workers respond in a group setting. "Groups may be given the freedom to manage themselves. Decisions are made on a consensus basis, and there is a higher level of participation from all employees. This creates a sense of responsibility and ownership of the work."

Task variety, significance, and completeness also are important, Campion indicates. "Just letting groups manage themselves and giving employees a say in group decisions doesn't guarantee a group will be effective. . . . The task or tasks the group performs must be worthwhile. Each member of the group should be given a variety of tasks, and those tasks should be important to the group...