Individual Evaluation - Assignment Example

343321 - Individual evaluation Question 1: Identify the barriers to effective teamwork in this assessment exercise 1 (a) What measures did you take to overcome these barriers? Lembke and Wilson (1998, p. 928) note that, “research has often focused on how teams can be managed effectively without describing what teamwork really is”. Indeed the terms “teamwork” and “groupwork” are often used synonymously so are they different? Sundstrom et al. (1990, p. 120) describe teams as ‘small groups of interdependent individuals who share responsibilities for outcomes for their organisation’. However, it has been suggested that the process by which individuals become team members is not just behavioural but also a cognitive and emotional process of alignment (Turner, 1987). This cognition and emotion engender the team members’ understanding and commitment and it is this that differentiates the ‘team’ from the ‘group’. Thus, Tajfel and Turner (1979) propose a model for a ‘group with a social identity’, a term which describes ‘a collection of individuals who classify, define and evaluate themselves in terms of a common social category membership’ (Hogg & Abrams, 1993, p. 184). It was a group work with in the five teams who were working for one company on the quarterly basis from which only one company will win at the end of the simulation. Among the five teams our team was the winner, as we made the effort. Our team faced specific problems in our group projects are a lack of leadership, scheduling conflicts, lack of team development, free-riding or social loafing, and students who prefer to work alone. Hansen (2006) made a list of suggestions in order to improve the effectiveness of teamwork. The suggestions include: (a) emphasizing the importance or relevance of teamwork, (b) teaching teamwork skills, (c) conducting team building exercises, (d) determining the best method of team formation, (e) assigning a reasonable workload and clear goals, (f) requiring groups to have specific or assigned roles, (g) providing some class time for team meetings, (h) requesting multiple feedback points for monitoring typical team problems, (i) requiring individuals to keep a personal contributions file, and (j) using detailed peer evaluations as part of grading. First, our group faced some barriers to effectiveness of the teamwork. The team did not clearly understand the division of labor among the group. It was not written statement on division of labor but in our team meeting verbal assignments were given to the team members. Some did understand whereas others did not clearly understand the assignments by the team leader. Therefore, it was necessary for the team leader to re-explain the individual assignment after the team meeting. Second, the team members faced how to integrate their finished assignments. It was not clear for them when and how they could integrate their completed work together. The team leader did not explain well about what they need to submit their completed assignment and how they could submit it. It seems that the team leader has to initiate effective means of communications among team members. Third, team members seem to lack group cohesion. Team members meet once a week. In the meeting, team members receive their assignment to accomplish. However, as soon as the meeting is over, all team members went back to their home. This left all members having no time for socialization among them. Therefore, with insufficient socialization, the group cohesion seems to be weak. As a result, the team leader has to make great efforts for coordinating among team members. 1 (b) What would you do differently next time? Our team has prepared for not repeating such barriers in next time. First, the team has the problem with assignment to individual members. Thus, the team leader should be aware of the individual assignment and the load individuals can handle within a limited time frame on available resources. Therefore, next time, our team members will meet in the team meeting and the team leader can list the activities to do. Then the leader could call for tem members to voluntarily take up any assignment which they think they are capable of handling it. In addition, they will judge themselves as the assignment load is manageable for them. Otherwise, they could raise any request among team members to take up or help parts of their selected assignments. In this way, the team leader believes that all team members will be assigned to do their load of assignments. This cerates an approach towards more participative approach to team members. Second, communication channel was not really effective among team members. Therefore, the team leader should create a communication channel by which all members can communicate among themselves. It is appropriate for us to cerate a Group Website such as Yahoo Group, or Google Group. This web site can limit assess to only members. Therefore, it will be private for our group and the communication channel will be more effective. In addition, the assignments for each team members will be written in words in the group website by the team leader. When there is an urgent matter, all team members can make communication not only by email, but also by their mobile phone to which all important and urgent messages will be forwarded. Question 2: Identify one of the activities from the simulation. It was a group work with in the five teams who were working for one company on the quarterly basis from which only one company will win at the end of the simulation. Among the five teams our team was the winner, as we made the effort. I have to chosen one of the activities within the simulation which was “Dress to Impress”. The activity was listed as activity number 8. The question was, first impressions are vital in this industry (hospitality industry). Your menu is supportive, your wines by the glass are infamous from Cannock to Wednesbury, and your customer service is exemplary. Your standard uniform of white shirts and black trousers? Well, they just don’t reflect your image and aspirations, do they? Choose (or design) a practical, cost-reflective yet distinctive uniform for your food staff, beverage staff and venue/restaurant management. 2. (a) How did you respond to the activity set? This activity number 8 was a big challenge for our team. In the beginning, it seems so simple to create dress for food staff, beverage staff and venue/restaurant management. However, the creation of new dress requires us to accomplish within the limitations including (1) costs, (2) practical and (3) distinctiveness. To accomplish the objective to dress creation within the given constraints, our team members started brain storming meeting together. We have brain stormed together for what concept of our restaurant adopts. First, our restaurant was aiming at middle class, high-ends, or low-ends customers. When we have decided that our restaurant was serving the middle class income earners segment in the market, we continued for thinking next step for choosing theme or concept. Our team thinks that the concept of our restaurant should be Italian Restaurant which carters wine, pastas, pizzas, and famous Italian dishes. Then we have chosen the dress to first impress with Italian dress code. Then members came up with ideas of their selection for materials, color, and styles. Finally, our team created a dress for staff, members, and manager, to impress our guests as Italian and relaxing atmosphere in our restaurant. The materials chosen was also within the limited budget. 2. (b) To what extent did your answer reflect established operations management theory? Our answer reflects the established operations management theory. First, the team work theory. When the team members are performing and making their efforts at an optimal level, they all are deserved achievement and accomplishment. In our case, our team members are doing at their best which led them to the achievement of successfully creating dress code. Second, the motivation theory explains why all team members were actively participating in our team work and making their best efforts and contributions to the team work. It reflected the well-know theory of motivation. All team members are highly motivated to do so, because they all need to have a good grade on assignment evaluation. They all are studying hard students in our class room. All of them are ambitious to receive good grades from their subjects upon completion of their study. This led them to actively participate in the team work with their motivated hearts and minds. Third, the leadership theory was also reflective upon our activities carried in the group work. The team leader has successfully led all team members to contribute and carry out the team work. The leader plays important role in motivating and assigning the team members to perform their jobs in the team work. 2. (c) How would your answer differ now? Our answer would not differ from what we have mentioned above. The answer did not differ from what we would say now because, our activities carried out as a group work for the assigned activity 8 was very reflective to the established theories. The reflection on the established theories of motivation was made with team work and leadership. The three theories explained well on why our group responded to the team work. First theory explained that when members are making efforts at an optimal level, it will lead to the successful implementation of the team work objective. Second theory also explain, when members of the team are highly motivated, they will make greater efforts in implementing their team work. Third, the leadership theory also explains how important and critical role the leader plays in accomplishing the team work. In short, our team was enable to reflect the established theories which can explain why our team have carried out the activity of team work in this specific way. This group activity provided our team to understand the team work behavior and the achievement of the objectives. Bibliography Drake, Robert; Goldsmith, Geraldine; Strachan, Rebecca. 2006. A novel approach to teaching teamwork. Teaching in Higher Education, Jan2006, Vol. 11 Issue 1, p33-46, Hansen, Randall S. 2006. Benefits and Problems With Student Teams: Suggestions for Improving Team Projects. By:. Journal of Education for Business, Sep/Oct2006, Vol. 82 Issue 1, p11-19 Hogg, M. A. & Abrams, D. (1993) Group motivation: social psychological perspectives (New York, Harvester Wheatsheaf). Lembke, S. & Wilson, M. G. (1998) Putting the ‘team’ into teamwork: alternative theoretical contributions for contemporary management practice, Human Relations, 50(7), 927-944. Mattick, Bonnie; Miller, D. Glen. 2006. Teamwork Pays. Journal for Quality & Participation, Winter2006, Vol. 29 Issue 4, p30-33, Sundstrom, E., De Meuse, K. P. & Futrell, D. (1990) Work teams: application and effectiveness, American Psychologist, 45(2), 120-133. Tajfel, H. & Turner, J. (1979) An integrative theory of intergroup conflict, in: W. G. Austin & S. Worchel (Eds) The social psychology of intergroup relations (Monterery, CA, Brooks/Cole). Turner, J. C. (1987) Rediscovering the social group: a self-categorisation theory (Oxford, Basil Blackwell). Read More