Improvement teams effectiveness. Case study: Auto dealers in San Cristobal City, Tachira State, Venezuela

In this inquiry, nineteen improvement teams from eleven car dealers in San Cristobal city, Tachira State, were studied to identify the presence of effective teams' characteristics and their relationship with their performance. This sector was selected because of high use of improvement teams as part of their quality management system. Results shown a moderate presence of the seven effective team work's characteristics and teams did not achieve the expected performance. As conclusion, it is necessary the presence of these characteristics in a high level during the process of working in teams in order for them to be successful. It is thought that this condition is reachable when team members are trained on team work before embracing a team task.