Organizations of all kinds are recognizing the value of empowering employees through teams, and this book provides the frank answers to questions about how they work, what makes them effective, when they are useful, how to get them going, and how to maintain their vigor and productivity over the long haul. Drawing on a survey of over 500 organizations and an in-depth study of 28 companies, the authors provide a blueprint for successful self-directed teams, offering advice on overcoming the organization's initial resistance to change, selecting team leaders and team players, defining roles, and training the team.