• Clear roles and accountabilities — each member’s relationship to the team is defined in terms of the role to be assumed and the results the role is to produce;
• An effective communication system — opportunities for team members to discuss team issues in a relaxed environment (social and informal interaction opportunities) are essential; methods for documenting issues raised and decisions made are important as well;
• Monitoring performance and providing feedback — establishing systems of checks and balances to assure that performance meets expectations is a must; and
• Fact–based judgments — objective and factual data should be the basis of the team’s sound decision–making.