Final answer:
Team effectiveness is measured by both team performance, with outcomes like sales and profits, and team viability, the team's ability to maintain a harmonious work environment. Team diversity, including gender mix, can enhance performance by adding skills and perspectives but may also bring challenges in communication. Virtual teams rely heavily on effective communication and interpersonal skills for collaboration and sustainability.
Step-by-step explanation:
When measuring team effectiveness, two aspects are particularly important: Team performance and team viability. Team performance refers to the ability of the team to meet its objectives and achieve results, which can be measured by outcomes such as sales and profits. Team viability, on the other hand, pertains to the capacity of the team to work together harmoniously over time, being sustainable and able to maintain a healthy work environment without internal conflicts that undermine collective productivity.
Research into team diversity, such as gender mix, has indicated that a balanced team composition can enhance performance by bringing a diverse set of skills and perspectives, which can improve team member interactions and decision-making. However, excessive diversity might also introduce communication and interpersonal-relationship problems. Therefore, having the right mix can be crucial to the effectiveness of a team.
Virtual teams have become commonplace, facilitating partnerships and collaboration without geographical constraints. Effective communication and interpersonal skills are essential for these types of teams as well, as they help in building trust, promoting sustainability in team relationships, and advancing collaborative projects.