Why do good teams fail? Very often, argue Deborah Ancona and Henrik Bresman, it is because they are looking inward instead of outward. Based on years of research examining teams across many industries, Ancona and Bresman show that traditional team models are falling short, and that what's needed--and what works--is a new brand of team that emphasizes external outreach to stakeholders, extensive ties, expandable tiers, and flexible membership. The authors highlight that X-teams not only are able to adapt in ways that traditional teams aren't, but that they actually improve an organization's ability to produce creative ideas and execute them--increasing the entrepreneurial and innovative capacity within the firm. What's more, the new environment demands what the authors call "distributed leadership," and the book highlights how X-teams powerfully embody this idea.

About the Author

Deborah Ancona is the Seley Distinguished Professor of Management at MIT's Sloan School of Management and the founder and former faculty director of the MIT Leadership Center. She received her PhD from Columbia University.

Henrik Bresman is a professor at INSEAD and the former faculty director of the INSEAD Global Leadership Centre. He received his PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Connect with Henrik Bresman on Twitter: @HenrikBresman and LinkedIn: linkedin.com/henrik-bresman.

Reviews
"!comfortable reading!has some excellent advice for internal functioning of teams." Globe & Mail 20070926



Book Information
ISBN 9781591396925
Author Deborah Ancona
Format Hardback
Page Count 272
Imprint Harvard Business Review Press
Publisher Harvard Business Review Press
Weight(grams) 572g