Henry Ford once said: “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." The same holds true in the 21st century. In a constantly changing, interconnected, global economy, teams and teamwork play a critical role in organizational success. Companies that value and understand teamwork can accomplish more than a single person, no matter how educated, experienced or trained he may be.

Continuity

Organizations have an obligation to deliver quality products and prompt service to their clients. Leaving an entire task to a single individual is risky, because her project can be put on hold due to illness, injury or a personal emergency -- requiring extended time off. When a company recruits teams of equally qualified individuals to accomplish a task, other members can carry on the work while one person is gone. This allows the organization to meet its deadline, eliminating the risk of losing clients due to late service.

Problem Solving

Even the best-laid plans can go wrong. Leaving the solution to a problem in the hands of one person is both stressful and inefficient. When a team is involved, not only does it distribute the pressure equally, but the diverse group of people can collaborate to generate solutions that a single employee may not think of. In turn, teams bring faster -- and better -- resolutions to keep the final product or project on track.

Competition

Competition is a byproduct of teamwork, especially in an environment that gives rewards, promotions or even simple praise based on individual performance. Team members who consistently try to outdo each other will build upon their teammates' work in hopes of bringing better solutions, ideas and approaches. In the end, this brings better results, leading to higher-quality products -- the ultimate benefit being client retention, which leads to increased revenue.

Interpersonal Relations

Employees who work together get to know each other better. Even if certain employees do not get along, having a common goal -- especially if it involves group-based incentives -- will motivate them to set aside their differences. Some organizations contain a diverse workforce. Teamwork allows people of different backgrounds to provide their own unique, often culturally based ideas to the project. This takes advantage of workplace diversity, strengthens relations and makes employees feel accepted and valued.