Working group

A working group (AK) is usually a rather informal association of people with a certain common goal . The task of the working group is to work out an acceptable way to achieve this goal (for everyone involved or as many as possible).

The employees of a working group remain in their previous positions and thus remain subordinate to their superiors. In a working group there is typically no supervisor with authority, but only a coordinator.

Working groups are usually set up when complex decisions are to be made or complex systems are to be modified which, because of their complexity , should be subject to an in-depth process of analysis , brainstorming and evaluation .

Ideally, working groups are composed of experts for the respective subject area (which are sent by the participating organizations if they do not represent themselves). Through the communication between the members and the processing of the special topic, expert knowledge can also be generated and compiled in the working group . Permanent working groups can evolve into competence centers.

Many working groups dissolve because they no longer have a business basis (the goal has been achieved, recognized as not achievable or has become unimportant for most of the participants). Some working groups exist permanently to work on a specific topic. Durability is often accompanied by formalization , such as the establishment of an association .

The advantage of the working group is the flexibility z. B. in terms of the number of contributors. The disadvantage is that the chairman has no authority to issue instructions and is therefore dependent on the willingness of both the other members of the working group and their members to cooperate. The loose association also prevents pronounced team behavior.

As a project organization, the working group is particularly suitable for projects of low complexity, little need for coordination and routine tasks.

Ironically , working groups are popularly viewed as institutionalized perplexity: "When you don't know what to do next, you found a working group."

Working group

See also