Self-directed work teams are best described as groups where members plan the group's work processes and set goals and may hire their own replacements.

Self-directed work teams are best described as groups where members plan the group's work processes and set goals and may hire their own replacements.

• A. Traditional work groups
• B. Autonomous groups
• C. Cross-functional teams
• D. Self-directed work teams

Answer: (D)

Self-directed work teams are defined by a high level of autonomy in managing their own work. They plan the group’s work processes, set goals, and take on staffing decisions, such as hiring their own replacements. This combination of designing how work gets done, deciding targets, and controlling staffing is what sets them apart from more traditional groups that rely on a supervisor for planning and staffing. Cross-functional teams focus on bringing together diverse specialties to accomplish a goal, but they aren’t inherently about self-directed process design and staffing. Autonomous groups share the self-management idea, but the label self-directed work teams emphasizes the full scope of self-management, including staffing decisions.

Self-directed work teams are defined by a high level of autonomy in managing their own work. They plan the group’s work processes, set goals, and take on staffing decisions, such as hiring their own replacements. This combination of designing how work gets done, deciding targets, and controlling staffing is what sets them apart from more traditional groups that rely on a supervisor for planning and staffing. Cross-functional teams focus on bringing together diverse specialties to accomplish a goal, but they aren’t inherently about self-directed process design and staffing. Autonomous groups share the self-management idea, but the label self-directed work teams emphasizes the full scope of self-management, including staffing decisions.