Behavioural dynamics in high-performing continuous improvement teams

We have explored from an Organisational-Behavioural perspective, why a Continuous Improvement (CI) team performs well. We report on the first part of a longitudinal study on intra-team behaviour of five, carefully selected, high-performing CI teams in five major Dutch organizations. Not only did we conduct a survey among team members and leaders, we also conducted informal interviews and analysed extensively the field notes. Preliminary results show the importance of five dynamics, such as ‘social talk’ within those teams. Team results were validated during subsequent team feedback sessions. A follow-up study will illuminate how these and related behaviours evolve over time