1. TEAMWORK ISSUES and Solutions:Educational framework from “Team of Rivals” Austin Hogan EDAM 5330 Dr. Taliaferro

2. Teaming What is a team? A group of people pooling theirs skills, talents, and knowledge, with mutual support and resources, to provide effective solutions to problems. Why work in teams? To share perspectives, learn from each other, discover more about yourself and others, learn something new, support each other, experiment, and have fun.

3. Group Lacking Participation In order for a group to be effective, each member must contribute to the task at hand. Without the support of each member others will have to do more which will simply add stress and hostility to the group. The group or team leader will also have to understand why some members may not participate. Group members may become inactive because they don’t understand the goals, are not comfortable voicing opinions, unaware of how to participate, or may not be interested. A way of countering such issues are involving everyone in setting goals, making sure every member understands there role, and effective communication.

4. Group Organization “Without rules or roles there will be anarchy,” this applies to groups as well. In order for a group to be effect, they must have a set goal and approach for reaching it. It will be hard for groups to complete assignments when each members has a different goal in mind. Their must be known goals and methods to follow. If there is no structure to a group its members will be clueless as to what their responsibilities are and how to achieve them. Like constructing a building, it only works when the team is all building the same thing and is involved.

5. Undefined Team Leader When working on a team it is best for the group members to choose a leader. This can be done after discovering what every team member has to bring to the table. Having a team leader will give the team direction. It will eliminate any confusion as to who to turn to when there are questions. Team leaders can assign each member their assigned tasks and set dead line. A team without a leader is bound to be unsuccessful.

6. Lack of Communication Communication is very important when working in teams. It is best to clarify what the team is about. What the teams are goals are and how that goal is gong to be accomplished. Every member should have access to everyone’s phone and or fax numbers, email addresses, etc. If any group member is uncertain about something; ask questions. It is better to ask then for you to do the wrong thing. It only adds more work because you will have to start from the beginning. If your part of the task cannot be done as promised, let the team know. There are deadlines to be met. The team members may be willing to help. The key thing to remember is that in a team, everyone is working together to accomplish a common goal.

7. Lack of Trust Trust is very important when working with teams. Without trust and honesty, the unity of the team is in danger. Every member must cooperate with each other and live up to each other’s commitments to the team The team must be consistent with their treatment with one another to prevent competitive behavior for personal recognition for individual performance.

8. Inappropriate Use of Team Approach When working on a team its purpose for being created is important. A team formed for a long ranged goal is more likely to succeed in their mission that a team formed for short ranged goals. In order to avoid inappropriate use of the team approach, the team must recognize when a team is actually appropriate for a project.

10. Team building: define team & individual roles, develop trust and communication

11. Task: define the problem & strategy to solve it, identify needed resources

12. Storming

13. Conflicts arise, collaboration is low, members realize the task is harder then they first imagined

14. Diagnose conflicts: Find out if everyone agrees on goals, roles & responsibilities. Try to identify the problem, and work out a solution that meets everyone’s goals.

15. Norming

16. Members accept the team, team ground rules, their roles, and the individuality of their fellow members.

17. Team members begin to cooperate, give constructive feedback.

18. Performing

19. Team members have gained insight into personal and team processes, and have a better understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses

20. The group has developed strategies for avoiding or resolving conflicts.

21. Adjourning or Reforming

22. Bring closure to tasks

24. Clarify the core issues

25. Listen carefully to each person’s point of view

26. Check understanding of the disagreement by restating the core issues

27. Use techniques such as circling the group for comments and having some silent thinking time when emotions run high

29. Clearly define roles and responsibilities

30. Use best skills of each

31. Allows each to develop in all areas

32. Effective systems and processes

33. Clear communication

34. Beneficial team behaviors

35. Well-defined decision procedures

36. Use of scientific approach

37. Balanced participation

38. Established ground rules

39. Awareness of the group process