A641.5.3.RB - ICT at the Team Level

In reading the article by Akrivou, Boyatzis and McLeod we learn that intentional change theory transformation at the group level can be catalyzed and facilitated by formal or even informal positive emotional leadership within the group (2006). We also learn that intentionality and shared ideals are the drivers of change and group transformation (Akrivou, Boyatzis & McLeod, 2006). These key learnings simply align with the results achieved by the United States women’s Olympic Soccer Team, and it also suggests why the United States men’s basketball Dream Team did so poorly in 2004.

The 2004 men’s Olympic basketball team is recognized as one of the most disappointing United States’ men’s teams in history, and with a number of obstacles to overcome the team simply did not come together to work towards a common vision (Maisonet, 2017). Much of the team’s issues had to due with a great deal of young blood, a lack of leadership, and a strong lack of team cohesiveness. Within the context of the intentional change theory and its application to teams, the basketball team did not seek out to make the necessary changes to come out of the tournament successfully.

Contrary, the United States women’s soccer team has dominated, with eight World Cup wins, and never finishing worse than third at the World Cup, they certainly are on a winning streak (Kann, 2019). In the context of the intentional change theory we can make the connection that this women’s team has kept focused sight on the self vision of dominating the support, they seem to work together as a team striving towards this goal of continued success and they also have quite the track record for triumph due to their team commitment. We learned that a series of discontinuous discoveries can lead a group and its members in various iterations of change and that each iteration is bound in the positive emotional attractor, and that this resulting positive emotion is critical for intentional group development (Akrivou, Boyatzis & McLeod, 2006). This soccer team has seemingly kept attitudes positive and that as a group and team they have developed and grown effectively together as a unit.

References

Akrivou, K., Boyatzis, R. E., & McLeod, P. L. (2006). The evolving group: Towards a prescriptive theory of intentional group development. Journal of Management Development, 25(7), 689-706. doi:10.1108/02621710610678490

Kann, D. (2019). Yes, the US women's soccer team is dominant. That's because most of the world is playing catch-up. Retrieved November 16, 2019, from https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/16/us/uswnt-dominance-womens-soccer-world-cup-history-explained/index.html

Maisonet, E. (2017). The Miseducation of the 2004 U.S. Men's Olympic Basketball Team. Retrieved November 16, 2019, from https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2731575-the-miseducation-of-the-2004-us-mens-olympic-basketball-team