Team effectiveness depends on clear objectives, roles, and leadership. When team members express frustration due to uncertainty about the team’s purpose, the root issue is likely a lack of defined goals.
Option A (Effectiveness of the team leader): While leadership is important, the stated issue is unclear purpose, not leadership performance, so this is not the first priority.
Option B (Clarity of team goals): This is the correct answer. The NAHQ CPHQ study guide states, “Clear team goals are essential for effective quality improvement teams, ensuring alignment and focus” (Domain 3). The team’s frustration about not knowing what to accomplish directly points to unclear goals, which must be addressed first.
Option C (Clarity of team roles): Role clarity is important but secondary to understanding the team’s purpose, as roles depend on goals.
Option D (Effectiveness of the facilitator): Facilitation supports meetings, but the core issue is goal clarity, not facilitation skills.
CPHQ Objective Reference: Domain 3: Organizational Leadership, Objective 3.2, “Support effective team dynamics,” emphasizes the need for clear goals to ensure team alignment and success. The NAHQ study guide notes that lack of goal clarity is a common barrier to team effectiveness.
Rationale: Addressing unclear goals resolves the team’s primary frustration, providing a foundation for role definition and effective leadership, aligning with CPHQ team management principles.
[Reference: NAHQ CPHQ Study Guide, Domain 3: Organizational Leadership, Objective 3.2., , , , ]
