Task interdependence is an important concept to understand in order to ensure that you, your team, and your business are successful. It is the idea that when one team member completes their task, it affects the work of other team members. Good task interdependence should create a cohesive team that works together to achieve the group’s objectives. It should also lead to better communication between teams and better collaboration. Task interdependence can be achieved through various methods, from addressing underlying assumptions to developing shared goals and objectives. It is important to understand the concept of task interdependence and how it applies to your team and business in order to ensure the best outcomes for all. In this blog post, we will explore task interdependence, the benefits of it, and how to implement it in your team.
James Thompson – Task Interdependence
3 types of task interdependence
There are three types of task interdependence for professionals, including:
Pooled
When team members or individual employees collaborate to accomplish a common objective, this is known as “pooled interdependence.” For instance, designers, developers, and project managers might be present in a team creating software. The team members each bring something unique to the project, but without their combined efforts, the project cannot be completed. When a team works together, their individual skills and efforts are “pooled” to create a final product. This approach promotes both individual and group accountability and is popular in technological, industrial, and manufacturing environments.
Reciprocal
When the completion of the final product depends on the individual contributions of each department or person, this is known as reciprocal interdependence. Without the assistance of others, no one person in this system can achieve the ultimate objective or create the good or service. For example, a cake factory operates with reciprocal interdependence. The only tasks that the material handlers concentrate on are providing ingredients and keeping track of lot numbers, mixing ingredients to create cake batter, and operating the ovens to bake the cake batter. Since no one person can supply, mix, and bake the batter, operations depend heavily on reciprocal interdependence.
Sequential
Teams are said to be sequentially interdependent when they cannot finish one task before finishing the one before it. This system sequences team efforts so that each step in the process is dependent upon the previous step’s efforts. The most prevalent instances of sequential interdependence are assembly lines. Using a car manufacturer as an example, the first person on the line may add a part to the engine, which is then sequentially assembled by ten more assemblers before being finished.
What is task interdependence?
To accomplish a task or reach a milestone, two or more tasks must depend on one another, according to the concept of task interdependence. For instance, the production, processing, and shipping departments collaborate on tasks during the manufacturing process. Without supplies from the shipping department, the production team cannot start its work, the processing department cannot package and prepare products without the production team, and goods cannot be shipped without the assistance of the shipping department. In a web of accountability and production, every daily task for those departments is entirely dependent on the accomplishment of every other task.
Tips for using task interdependence
Task interdependence can benefit businesses in a number of ways, but team and individual accountability is one of its most significant benefits. Following are some pointers for utilizing task interdependence in small or large teams across different industries:
Focus on accountability
Interdependence depends on each team member’s accountability. Greater accountability can be fostered by all three types of interdependence, but it’s also critical that team leaders, project managers, and even team members hold one another accountable. For instance, if the first person in an assembly line moves too slowly, it can affect the productivity of the rest of the assembly line and reduce the team’s output for the day. Leaders can hold team members accountable by pointing out good and bad work, praising accomplishments, and keeping an eye on performance to make sure it complies with company standards.
Improve team communication
Improving team communication and making sure team leaders are communicating expectations are key to maximizing task interdependence. By talking about the expectations and requirements for each task or project and keeping track of the teams’ progress, you can improve team communication. Team members and leaders can verbally praise or voice concerns to create a more welcoming and encouraging environment. Team leaders can set a good example for improved communication by using both verbal and nonverbal cues and communicating frequently with both the group and individual team members.
Use project management software
Software for project management can increase a team’s interdependence and maximize its advantages. This kind of software can keep track of everything, including employee tasks and goals, individual and team progress, and team member communications. Online, there are countless options for project management software, each with their own features and advantages. Many of these platforms allow each team member to set unique goals within a project and include internal communication tools to enhance team communication. These can also be useful resources for improving teamwork and professional development.
Eliminate or reduce obstacles
Many projects may face a variety of challenges that could slow production or affect the interdependence of the team, but teams can reduce these occurrences. Eliminating obstacles requires looking at the team’s production process and figuring out the biggest challenges they might encounter. The team can then create a standard blueprint that is clear to everyone on the team to address each obstacle by planning ahead with its leaders. For instance, the team can prepare by producing multiple drafts and anticipating potential change requests if they are aware that a client changes their mind frequently throughout their projects, minimizing frustration and maintaining production.
What is task coordination?
To complete a task, a team must coordinate with one another, with other departments, and with outside resources. Although similar to task interdependence, task coordination is an optional process rather than a requirement. For instance, a team could coordinate the efforts of three designers to complete a design, but those designers wouldn’t necessarily need to depend on one another to finish the project.
FAQ
What is task interdependence in conflict?
- Pooled Interdependence. This is the most open type of interdependence.
- Sequential Interdependence. …
- Reciprocal Interdependence.
What is interdependence in an organization?
Task interdependence, or the requirement that you depend on others to complete their tasks in order to achieve your goal, is another factor that can lead to conflict.
