Information use environment of self-managed teams: A case study

This research investigated how self-managed teams get the information they need to perform their job tasks. Two important factors prompted this study: the growing importance of self-managed teams in the workplace and the impact of the information system on team performance.;A taxonomy depicting the differences in the information use environment of high-performing versus low-performing teams was developed to illustrate the results from the data. The results indicate there are differences in the information use environment of high-and low-performing teams. Although teams have access to the same information, some are more effective than others in utilizing that information. Data reveal, teams that nurture relationships outside the team in efforts to gather external information perform at a higher level than those that do not. Low-performing teams are usually working in a crisis situation, therefore, must focus on current, immediate problems. This allows little time to expand team boundaries for gathering external information or for innovating to develop ideas and understand trends. When information-seeking and communication activities are impaired, teams develop special communication channels or networks to obtain the information they need.;The findings of this study can be used by information system designers to develop group information support systems to support team-based environments. Decision-makers may use these findings to incorporate information-seeking and communication skills training for self-managed teams.;Four case studies were conducted in a manufacturing environment, with two teams having high team performance and two teams having low team performance. The case studies supported the theoretical propositions of the study. However, the data revealed another important factor which enhances or inhibits the teams' ability to access the information they need. In addition to the openness of the information system and the amount of information, information-seeking and communication skills were found to also affect the team's access to information.