“The team is the cornerstone of the learning organization. What
really matters is how people make decisions and take action—how
the team thinks and acts together.” —Peter Senge Productive
collaboration takes both purpose and skill to be effective;
teams need to be clear about why they exist (purpose) and have
the ability to create and implement a plan for getting it done
(skill). Productive collaboration does not occur just by telling
people to work together. When teams have the skills to work
together effectively and are guided by a clear purpose they save
time and develop solutions to problems that can be successfully
implemented. According to Conzemius and O’Neill , three
cornerstones of productive collaboration and teamwork are
People, Task and Process. When all three are priorities for the
team, the result is a highly productive team which yields good
outcomes for students. People: Leadership, Commitment,
Knowledge, and Skills Successful teams tap into the unique
perspectives and talents of the individua