No More Teams - by Michael Schrage (Paperback)

About the Book

By effectively using technological tools available in most workplaces, No More Teams! shows readers how to go beyond the lazy cliches of "teamwork" to the practical benefits of collaboration.

Book Synopsis

For organizations that care about innovation, individual creativity isn't enough anymore -- people need to be in creative, collaborative relationships. But without the knowledge and tools for building these relationships, innovation expert Michael Schrage argues, one will not be successful in the offices of today and even less so in the "virtual" offices of tomorrow. No More Teams gives readers the tools and techniques to go beyond the lazy cliches of "teamwork" to the practical benefits of collaboration. When Schrage studied the world's greatest collaborations -- including Wozniak and Jobs, Picasso and Braque, Watson and Crick -- he found that instead of relying on charisma, they all created "shared spaces" where they could play with their ideas. By effectively using technological tools available in most workplaces -- anything from a felt tip pen and a napkin to specialized computer software - -you can literally map your discussion as it is happening, making it possible to keep all the good ideas, cope with every objection, handle conflicts as they arise, and, ultimately, master the unknown.

From the Back Cover

No More Teams! goes beyond the faddish cliches of teams to explain how creative relationships really work. It sweeps away the pop mythology of teamwork to offer practical tools and techniques for tapping the interpersonal power of collaboration. Creative collaboration - not the politicized realities of teams - is the essential relationship for generating effective innovation and ideas in organizations.

Review Quotes

"Michael Schrage has written a magical book. Yes, it is 'about' the effects of new technologies on how we think, collaborate, organize, and solve problems. But it is much more, a pioneering exploration qf language and creation in the workplace, in the world." -- Tom Peters, author of Thriving On Chaos