A641.5.3.RB - ICT at the Team Level

The 2000 and 2004 “Dream team” of men’s basketball and the Olympic US women’s soccer team, have two very different outcomes in regards to their success and failure as a team. The intentional change theory has five discoveries, explained by Akrivou, Boyatzis, & McLeod (2006) which include an emergence of shared idea, vision, or dream, an exploration of norms, paradoxes, challenges, and gaps, the groups learning agenda, group experimentation and practice, and finally resonant relationships. How did one of the teams use the intentional change theory to change and succeed but the other team failed?

The women’s Olympic team was successful for the 2000 & 2004 Olympics because they started with a shared vision and leadership realized in the past they were too big and tried to grow too quickly, therefore; they understood they needed to take a new approach to win the Olympics, Litter (2011) explained that financial losses were enormous due to this. However, the team made a turnaround and they began to fundraise to start rebuilding to have the money to go to the Olympics, to train, and for equipment. This is where the team overcame a challenge as part of the five discoveries of the intentional change theory. Litter (2011) explained that many of the changes of women’s soccer and the perceptions can be attributed to changes throughout the country, both cultural and demographic. The culture of women’s soccer in the US was not fully supported nor did everyone share their views, however; when the team won the gold in the 2004 Olympics, the team left on a high note. The 2004 success changed the hearts of their supports and Litter (2011) explained that the creation and growth of women’s soccer in the US was a process of assembling the components, which started with youth programs through college leagues and leadership/ coaches who wanted to see a successful women’s soccer. The team also realized the value of practicing and keeping a humble attitude about their goals.  

On the other hand, the 2000 and 2004 men’s basketball team did not take the same approach of making intentional changes to improve their program. Gribnitz (2008) stated that as the U.S athletes gathered for opening ceremonies, the men’s basketball team temporarily abandoned its self-absorption to acknowledge the women’s softball team. He went on to explain (2008) the men’s team with their million-dollar contracts, entourages, and failure to stay in the Olympic village with other athletes, seemed to treat the national team like a $6.99 ponderosa buffet. There was very little regard to other’s and they did not have a team mentality, they had a “me” mentality, they believed they were above everyone else. For the men’s team, there were missing a dream, passion for the sport, and drive to be part of something great. Gribnitz (2008) explained that in men’s Olympics competition, the highlight mentality has led to “the notion that Americans can out quick and out jump every opponent”, this has led to a sharp decline in the basic fundamentals such as shooting, passing, and defensive positioning. When a team loses sight of where they started, continuous practice of basic moves, and team mentality they regress instead of making positive intentional changes on a team level. This led to a sharp decline of the 2004 men’s basketball team and their loss of the Olympics.

            Overall, the women’s soccer team realized they needed to change, they understood obstacles and barriers they were facing but they did not lose sight of their goals to be a successful team. The coaches understood this as well and they knew they had to work hard to overcome the past and push the team forward, however; the men’s basketball team let the idea of their fame and fortune go to their head and they were unsuccessful and embarrassed their team, and lost the “dream team”.

            From an outside perspective looking in and not really interested in basketball or soccer, I can see where both teams took different paths which led one team to success and the other to failure. When leadership realized there was a problem with the girl's soccer team, they were broke, and needing guidance, they started from scratch to help rebuild the team. The men’s basketball team did not see their ego’s, money, and fame as a problem and failed to see where they needed to improve their skills and leadership did not recognize this right away and the team failed. The intentional change theory on the team level involves knowing the team needs to make changes, recognizing the root of the issue, and making the changes necessary one step at a time.

Akrivou, K., Boyatzis, R. E., & McLeod, P. L. (2006). The evolving group: Towards a prescriptive theory of intentional group development. The Journal of Management Development, 25(7), 689-706. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/10.1108/02621710610678490

Litterer, D. (2011, August 17). Women's Soccer History in the USA: An Overview. Retrieved February 10, 2017, from http://homepages.sover.net/~spectrum/womensoverview.html

Gribnitz, J. (2008, July). A Study of USA Basketball: How the Dream Team became a Nightmare. 

     Retrieved February 10, 2017, from International Society of Olympic Historians website: 

     http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv16n2/JOHv16n2f.pdf