Groundbreaking efforts in global team development
have earned the Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Group and EquiPro International
an "Excellence in Practice Citation" from the American
Society for Training & Development (ASTD). This citation
is presented in recognition of a new practice that has contributed
to the quality of the training, learning and performance improvement
field. Awarded practices are recognized as continuing to increase
the industry's capacity to contribute to workforce quality
and organizational competitiveness.
The Excellence in Practice awards and citations
are given annually through the ASTD, a premier professional
association with over 70,000 members worldwide, and the ASTD
Benchmarking Forum, a consortium founded as a venue for large
organizations to share best practices. This citation is based
on a training and consulting initiative, "Team Development
System for High-Performance Global Teams," created and
implemented by Nolan Brawley, Pfizer's Associate Director
of Pharmaceutical Development & Training, and Lynda McDermott
and William Waite, principals of EquiPro International.
The Team Development System was launched in
1995 to address the growing need to better leverage Pfizer's
organizational resources and tap the full potential of those
who serve on teams in effect, to transform "working groups"
into true high-performance teams. With its long history as
a multinational company, Pfizer recognizes the mandate to
successfully manage across country borders, while also breaking
down functional walls within the organization. In short, global
team development is viewed as a competitive business strategy.
In particular, the Team Development System addresses
the unique challenges of professionals and managers who must
work in cross-functional and/or cross-cultural teams, especially
"remote teams" whose team members are geographically
scattered. Taking a comprehensive and strategic view toward
global teambuilding, the system provides the tools, competencies,
structures and new methods of working needed to unleash team
competencies and integrate teams around clearly defined business
and performance challenges.
A more detailed description of this award-winning
practice can be found in Excellence in Practice (Volume 2).
To order, call ASTD (1-800-628-2783).
