Date: Thursday 23 June 2022

Time: 11:00-12:00

Location: Online event via Zoom

OVERVIEW

Virtual "Lunch and Learn" Session for MBA students and alumni of the University of Exeter Business School and the TUM School of Management (20min input, 20min groupwork, 20min discussion)

SPEAKERS

Prof. Ilke Inceoglu

Department of Management and Exeter Centre for Leadership, University of Exeter

Dr. Eleni Georganta

Chair for Research and Science Management, Technical University of Munich

Prof Ronit Kark, PhD

Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology, Bar-Ilan University

Distinguished Research Professor, University of Exeter Business School

Cat Holt

Postgraduate Researcher (Management), University of Exeter Business School

ABSTRACT

Organisations increasingly adopt agile work methods in teams, going beyond software development. The reason for the rapid increase in agile work methods is that traditional, more static approaches have failed in delivering projects successfully in quickly changing work and market environments. Nevertheless, agile team work processes do not always lead to success, resulting to significant costs to organisations and frustrations in employees. In an effort to explain why agile teams may fail or thrive, we discuss whether the way agile teams face paradoxical demands (flexibility within a strictly defined framework) might explain why some teams are more successful than others. Synthesizing empirical findings from our ongoing collaboration between the University of Exeter Business School and TUM School of Management with literature on agility and team effectiveness, we reflect on the circumstances that can make agile teams more resilient and help organisations to deliver sustainable performance in competitive environments.

The paradox of agile teams: What makes them really successful?