Towards more effective management teams : Investigating the efficiency of a theoretical dynamic management model created toindicate development potentials regarding management team effectiveness.

Abstract: Today's rapid changes and major business developments in organizations increase the need for effective management teams. In management teams, there are significant demands on the members to understand how strategic, tactical and operational decisions and actions generate results. High management team effectiveness requires optimum cooperation between the members with particular emphasis on well-operated communication and ability and flexibility in working as a team. It further requires a deep understanding of the factors that influence the management team effectiveness. The challenge to create a theoretical dynamic model to indicate development potentials regarding the effectiveness in the management teams represents the foundation for the idea behind this master thesis. This master thesis presents a theoretical management dynamic model I have developed based on identified key factors that influence the effectiveness of management teams. For identification of these key factors, I have used literary studies and research concerning the concept of team, management team, team effectiveness, leading organizations, organization development, dynamic models and many other concepts. I have categorized these key factors in five criteria. These criteria are engagement and dynamic leadership, team spirit, management meetings, conflict management and visions and objectives. In view of that, my definition of an effective management team is: team where high-engaged and motivated members including a strategic and dynamic leader work in a team having a good team spirit, hold effective management meetings and manage conflicts effectively to make qualified decisions that mainly are concentrated to reach welldefined bjectives and visions”.  The inspired idea behind my model is to integrate these criteria in the mechanical system called the Planetary Gear System to create a metaphoric image describing the dynamic of management teams and their effectiveness. Strategies for measuring these criteria also are identified and presented in this master thesis. These properties make the present dynamic model to a unique model in its appearance and functionality. The main function of my model is to indicate development potentials in the management teams. These development potentials are then used to give the studied management team relevant recommendations aimed at making the management team more effective. The aim of this master thesis is to investigate whether the developed model fulfill this function. In order to investigate the ability of the model to fulfill this function the model has been applied to a real management team. The results have shown that the model has sufficient ability to indicate development potentials in the studied management team. The obtained results have been analyzed using SPSS computer program. Based on these results several recommendations are given. In this manner, the model has fulfilled stated expectations. However, a couple of additional actions aimed at increasing the qualifications of the presented dynamic model are identified at the end of this master thesis. With the intention of verifying whether the developed model contributes to make the studied management team more effective, the performed measurement should be repeated after a period of at least six months. The re-measurement is necessary to follow up the effect of the given recommendations and also to indicate any new development potential. Such a task is recommended for further research and development of the model.