This paper explores the role of individual goal orientation on the self-management work process and how individual goal orientation may impact self-managed work team (SMWT) effectiveness. Supervisory encouragement, team member goal orientation, and work team behaviors are included in a conceptual model of work team effectiveness. Propositions addressing the relationships between goal orientation, encouraging supervisory behaviors, and self-managed work team effectiveness are offered and practical implications addressing the usage of goal orientation as a selection tool for self-managed work teams and the need for external supervisors to encourage certain work team behaviors to promote work team effectiveness are discussed. © 2004, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
