The approach to leadership and management that NSL has adopted in managing the business is one of working closely as a team to get work done. This is often referred to as shared management teams. In shared management teams, management responsibility is distributed between individuals in a team or organization in such a way that the members of the team manage each other.

Required:
Research into shared management teams has identified several factors that contribute to the effectiveness of such a team and its ability to improve performance. Identify and explain FIVE (5) of those factors in relation to NSL.
(10 marks)

The factors contributing to the success of shared management teams include:

  1. Shared Purpose:
    A shared purpose and shared beliefs motivate and empower team members. This increases their commitment to the team and the work they carry out, making them more willing to share the leadership and responsibilities of the team.
  2. Task Interdependence:
    The greater the interdependence between team members, the greater the need for coordination, making shared management more effective. NSL must ensure that its value chain activities are designed to create interdependence among team members.
  3. Age Homogeneity:
    Shared management teams that consist of members of a similar age are often more successful. The greater the age disparity, the more challenging it is to effectively share leadership.
  4. Team Tenure:
    Long-established teams are less effective at shared management than newer teams. NSL should ensure that it periodically reconstitutes its teams to maintain their effectiveness.
  5. Work Complexity:
    The complexity of the work affects the benefits of shared management. As the complexity of tasks increases, shared management becomes more beneficial. For NSL, as the complexity of shito production increases, shared management will yield greater benefits.

(Marks allocation: 5 points @ 2 marks each = 10 marks)