Building High-Performing Autonomous Teams in Complex Manufacturing Settings: A Naturalistic Research Approach

Abstract

This study contributes to the engineering management body of knowledge by providing a unique and rich view into the development of self-managed teams in manufacturing settings using a naturalistic research approach. We uncover the complexity of multi-level factors at the individual, team, and organizational level that influence the successful development of high-performing self-managed teams. This research identifies and describes the major drivers of effective autonomous teamwork in low volume, high complexity (LVHC) manufacturing settings. A key theoretical contribution of this study is a depiction of production work teams that describes the dynamic process of generating and further advancing autonomous behaviors in LVHC manufacturing settings. Engineering managers can use the findings from this article to help them understand the precursors and conditions for building effective self-managed teams in LVHC manufacturing settings. The results can also contribute to the design of training programs aimed at building highly effective, self-managed work teams.

Keywords:

• Case Study Research
• Complex Manufacturing
• Self-Managed Work Teams
• Self-Regulating Teamwork Behaviors
• Team Autonomy
• Team Effectiveness

EMJ Focus Areas:

• Organization and Work System Design

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Aaron W. Powell

Aaron W. Powell is a Continuous Improvement Black Belt at Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation in Savannah, GA. He has over 20 years of experience working in various engineering and management roles to support manufacturing operations and product development. He received his Ph.D. from Old Dominion University in 2015. He also holds a B.S. in Engineering Physics from the University of Tennessee, and a M.E. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Pilar Pazos

Pilar Pazos is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director in the Engineering Management and Systems Engineering Department at Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, VA. She received her Ph.D. from Texas Tech University in Industrial Engineering (2005) with a focus on engineering management and a minor in applied statistics from the Rawls School. Her main areas of research include team-based work structures, collaborative learning, performance management, and team decision-making.