A cry that is often heard from front-line employees, particularly as a mine grows or circumstances change is "We used to
be one big team but now they have set up teams for different functions - we don't know what's going on and we don't share
resources any more. We used to just get in and do what had to be done, now we can't.". It usually occurs after
management decides that, with the increasing mine complexity, functions and accountabilities of a manageable size need
to be identified and defined for individuals and teams to facilitate optimum performance. However, as the statement
indicates, these changes have often not delivered all the intended benefits. This paper will explore the reasons why the full
benefits have not been realised and will identify actions which can be taken to improve the likelihood of optimal outcomes.