What is it?

A simple, half-day workshop designed around the insights from Hackman’s Five-Factor Model to help teams evaluate their effectiveness, clarify goals, and build structures for success.

Why is it useful?

This workshop creates the right conditions (real team, compelling direction, enabling structure, supportive context, and expert coaching) to help maximise team effectiveness.

Hackman's Five-Factor Model of team effectiveness was developed by J. Richard Hackman at Harvard University in the 1980s and 1990s, identifying five conditions that enable team success.

Objective

To equip the team with a shared understanding of Hackman’s Five-Factor Model and collaboratively apply its principles to enhance team performance.

Resources Required

• Time: 3.5 hours
• Number of People: 4-20
• Presentation Equipment: Projector, screen, laptop
• Slides to present the Five-Factor Model
• Self-assessment worksheets
• Flip charts or whiteboards for group discussions
• Sticky notes and markers
• Commitment cards or slips of paper

Process

Step 1: Welcome & Introduction (15 minutes)

1. Welcome: Outline the agenda and objectives. Set a collaborative tone.
2. Icebreaker: “What’s one thing that makes you proud of being part of this team?”

Step 2: Understanding the Five-Factor Model (20 minutes)

1. Presentation: Explain each factor with real-world examples:
   • A Real Team: Stable, clearly defined boundaries, shared identity
   • Compelling Direction: Clear, challenging, and meaningful goals
   • Enabling Structure: Well-defined roles, norms, and balanced skills
   • Supportive Context: Access to resources, information, and rewards
   • Expert Coaching: Timely support to enhance performance and growth
2. Activity: Small groups briefly discuss how each factor applies to their team.

Step 3: Self-Assessment: How Are We Doing? (30 minutes)

1. Worksheet: Each participant rates each factor on a scale of 1–5 (1 = poor, 5 = excellent) and adds brief comments about strengths and gaps.
2. Debrief: Share highlights as a group. Discuss where the team excels and where improvement is possible.

Step 4: Team Discussions and Action Planning (90 minutes)

1. Small Groups: Divide the team into groups, each focusing on one or two factors.
2. Discussion Prompts:
   • What are we doing well in this area?
   • What specific improvements can we make?
   • What actions will create the most impact?
3. Output: Each group creates a brief action plan including:
   • One immediate action (within 1 week)
   • One medium-term goal (1–3 months)
4. Sharing: Groups present their plans to the team for feedback and alignment.

Step 5: Reflection and Commitments (30 minutes)

1. Commitment Cards: Each participant writes one action they will personally take to support the team’s development.
2. Group Reflection:
   • What’s the most important insight you gained today?
   • What excites you most about our action plans?
3. Facilitator Wrap-Up: Summarise key points, thank participants, and outline next steps (e.g., follow-up check-ins, implementation tracking).