Doing what comes naturally? Why we need a practical ethics of teamwork

Abstract

This paper challenges the belief that teamwork is a 'natural' form of work organization that satisfies universal human needs such as social affiliation and self-actualization. A corollary of this belief-that teamwork is a morally superior form of work organization- unnecessarily restricts debate about the desirability and usefulness of teams because any criticism comes to be seen as a denial of our essential humanity. Using an approach inspired by Michel Foucault's concept of 'care of the self', I will propose a practical ethics of teamwork that allows us to appreciate the moral ambiguities of teamwork. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Group Ltd.