37 pages • 1 hour read
Patrick LencioniThe Five Dysfunctions Of A Team: A Leadership Fable
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2002A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapter 1, Part 1Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 1, Part 1: “The Fable”
Chapter 1, Part 1 Summary: “Luck, Part One: Underachievement”
The book begins with a brief section called “Luck,” in which the fortuitous appointment of Kathryn Petersen, a 57-year-old woman with a reputation for building strong teams, as CEO at a flailing Silicon Valley software start-up called DecisionTech, comes about because the chairman of the board knows Kathryn socially.
“Underachievement” emphasizes the effect of team dysfunction on DecisionTech’s performance. The executives at the company include Jeff Shanley, former CEO, now head of business development; Mikey Bebe, head of marketing with a proven track record of results; Martin Gilmore, head of engineering and the inventor of the DecisionTech flagship product; JR Rawlins, head of sales, who is known for his pragmatic approach; Carlos Amador, head of customer support, who has a team-oriented mindset; Jan Mersino, CFO with a keen mind for financial infrastructure; and Nick Farrell, COO and the newest addition to the team.
While Kathryn’s extensive professional background gives her the self-assurance to do the job of rebuilding the team, her unexpected appointment, the unconventional manner in which she becomes CEO, and her limited knowledge of software do not inspire immediate confidence on the part of the executive leadership. Initially spending most of her time observing the leadership team’s dynamics, she then decides to organize an off-site executive retreat to address the problems she has seen in the way that they function.
Chapter 1, Part 1 Analysis
In calling his story about Kathryn and DecisionTech “The Fable,” Lencioni indicates that he seeks to convey a moral lesson through it. This storytelling approach also allows Lencioni to distill the essence of dysfunctional team behaviors and provides a safe distance for readers to reflect on their own experiences and biases, without feeling personally targeted or defensive.
The theme of The Individual Versus the Team appears from the outset, given that it is the shortcomings of individuals that lead to the dysfunctions of teams. This is one of the many problems that Kathryn Petersen is supposed to address in her role as the new CEO of DecisionTech. Another key theme, Transparency and Accountability, arises from the frustration and confusion experienced by the DecisionTech team when Kathryn initially spends most of her time simply observing their work. Her manner is not transparent to her colleagues at first, although her commitment to creating an environment of openness and accountability does become evident in the off-site retreat that she arranges.
Although Kathryn is confident in her ability to do her job, her limited knowledge of software could be a drawback. On the other hand, acknowledging one’s limitations can bring about growth and better communication, and thus Lencioni brings out The Power of Vulnerability, another theme woven through the story of leadership and team development.
