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Sample Response to Real GRE Issue Questions
Issue # 2: "People work
more productively in teams than individually. Teamwork requires
cooperation, which motivates people much more than individual competition
does."
Teamwork as a whole can naturally produce an overall greater productivity
through the concept of "synergy", where the total of the whole is greater
than the sum of its individual parts. But the idea that people work more
productively in teams rather than as individuals is going to vary greatly
between the types of teams that are organized, the end reward or
motivation for both the team and the individuals, as well as the
individuals themselves.
Regarding individuals, some people are born with the desire to succeed, no
matter what the situation or task that they are facing. These people may
evolve into the classic "Type A" personalities that work ferociously
because they are driven by an internal fire that says they must always be
doing something, whether individually or as part of a team. Other people
may desire to be less socially involved or are very highly competitive
with other people. For these people, their work is most productive as
individuals, because the very idea of cooperating with other people limits
their effectiveness and efficiency because they simply do not want to be a
part of the team. Whether this mindset is innate or developed over time
does not matter, it is merely the state of their being and neither
motivation nor rewards can generate inside them the desire to work
collectively as a team.
Some people are highly motivated by social interaction and the desire to
work with others towards a collective effort. Obviously these individuals
are at their most productive when working as part of a team.
Organizational behavioral studies have shown that Asian cultures are much
more likely to develop this type of collective behavior as opposed to the
more individualistic behavior associated with Western cultures. It could
naturally be assumed then that there may be cultural values that can
determine whether people are at their most productive individually or as
part of a team.
Another variable is the end reward that is involved with the task at hand.
Will the rewards be greater if the team works together towards a common
goal, or are the rewards more geared toward individual performance? To the
extent that the individual is motivated by the end reward, obviously his
or her performance inside of a team may be more or less productive with
respect to the entire team, depending on how the performance is rewarded.
Individual goals may interfere with the group performance. Synergies may
not be achieved because the individuals are not working towards a whole
"sum" but rather towards an individual reward. Productivity thus will vary
for each person as a team member or as an individual depending on the
degree to which that person is motivated by an individual or overall team
reward.
Finally, the degree of productivity of a person will depend upon the type
of team that is organized. Is the group composed of equally contributing
individuals? Does the group have an outstanding leader that can motivate
both the individuals and the team as a whole? From a pure productivity
standpoint, the presence or absence of a charismatic and exceptional
leader can make all the difference whether a person would be more
productive as a part of a team or as an individual. Personality types that
work well together can prove to be much more productive as part of a team
than as individuals, and vice versa.
Fundamentally, measures of productivity depend greatly on the individuals
themselves. The dilemma facing leaders in all areas of life is how to best
assess these individuals to determine how to best harness their
capabilities to reach their ultimate productive capabilities. Whether a
person is more productive alone or while working in concert with others is
one of the great challenges that leaders and managers must face to
accomplish tasks effectively and efficiently.
(635 words)
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