Groupthink or Standoff do Managers - Term Paper Example

PORTFOLIO 2 Name(s) Grade Course Tutor’s Name 8th May 2012 Contents Contents 1 Introduction 2 Task 1: Learning Experience 2 Task 2: Team Experience 5 Conclusion 7 Introduction Team work has its both ups and downs. These aspects range with different impacts depending on the work at hand and team members. Despite the fact that all team members tend to work to achieve a comon goal, it is vital that all individual give it their all. As for the assignment at hand, am proud to say that despite the challenges, I have greatly benefited from the whole experience. Task 1: Learning Experience At the start of the assignment I was allocated a group and a problem to tackle. When taken from the top, I had to define the problem at hand. Communication tends to be the vital element in any teamwork. I had to establish a suitable way of communication with the other members. The mode of communication to be adapted also had to conform to what the other team members can agree on. Alternatives and improved methods can also be incorporated when need be all in an effort to achieve the team goal. My experience with the team I’d say was exceptionally good. My outcome in contributing to tackle the problem at hand was rewarding. I feel the outcome of our research is of quality as opposed to if it could have been on an individual effort. I had an increase of ownership with diverse communication. I can say my creativity was expounded and had a capacity to contribute more than what I would have as an individual. My personal relationship and traits with the team also grew for the better. Ultimately all decisions that i made or contributed to the team and research as a whole improved my level of understanding of many decision making process. This also increased the accuracy to which we tackled individual and group problems that we encountered during the research. It is safe to say that my learning experience has improved. Dorgan (2001) explains how the manner on approach toward tackling problems has changed. Considering a group tables a wide range of ideas and solution toward a problem, I have leant to widen my perception when finding solutions to problems. The level of exposure and research methodologies and knowledge I have gain shall definitely came in handy, both in my future life and my professional life as well. Working for the EWB Project has greatly increased my knowledge and skills, as opposed to the level they were at the beginning of the semester. Among the inter-personal skills that I have improved are my listening skills. The whole teamwork was based on communication and understanding. There are various ways in which individuals explained their ideas and points. The team and I all had to listen and comprehend all tabled ideas. My ability to question the points that I found vague to understand also improved. This helped improve both my courage and I was enlightened on the on complex issues about the EWB project. My level of respect as improved as I had to perceive my team in a manner I’d wish them to perceive me and respect me as well. The support toward the team goals and objectives also made me be more responsible and avoid putting the team and its goal in an unconstructive position. Sacrifice is also a skill that I learned. Mostly I had to sacrifice my free time and dedicate it to the project. After sacrifice came the sharing of available resource at my disposal. I willingly shared any material relevant to the project with my team. This was due to the fact that they might make better use of their ideas for the better of the project. My communication skills were also improved. Communication being the center of all, and it had to be applied in every aspect of the project. In the long run I can say that the teamwork for the project has brought the best in me. The gained experience and skills will definitely came in handy in my every day to day social and professional activity. The ultimate goal for the whole project was to deliver an energy efficient parabolic solar cooker. I am confident that I gave my whole effort and dedication toward achieving the team objectives and goal. My sub-goals for the project also entailed to gain and sharpen my skills as listed in the previous paragraph. It is safe to say that I have emerged a better me from the undertaking of this project. My listening, communication, study, thinking, decision making, judgement, and inter-personal skills have greatly improved. My knowledge on energy, the world and mostly third world countries similar to Vietnam has widened. This was among my sub goals considering that our research project can be adapted to help communities elsewhere around the world. It brings warmth to my heart knowing I was among the pieces that formed the solution. My motivation and dedication was my drive to achieving my goals. I was optimistic of enjoying the whole experienced and I certainly did. All my goals from the undertaken project shall all come in handy as there is little difference between what I experienced and my day to day life. All skills that I have sharpened thanks to the projects are the very skills I utilize throughout my daily activities. Smith (2007) states that problem based learning has several advantages. They entail; the development of scholars’ flexible knowledge, effective and efficient decision making and problem solving techniques, inherent motivation and a self-driven directed learning. As much as it problem based learning is more practical, I prefer both approach (directed learning and problem based learning). The reason being I have heard directed learning as the basis of my education. When it comes to problem bases learning, fundamental techniques and knowledge acquired from directed learning are adapted. Only then can one expound on their skills and utilize them to solve the problem at hand. I confidently conclude that will always adapt both approach and pick the one that best suits the situation at a given moment. From the course, I have learnt different approach of how to perceive problems I encounter. The knowledge and skills gained both in classwork and during the project will definitely come in hand in my daily activities. Task 2: Team Experience My team applied a top down approach when tackling the project. Kowert (2002) tells as to identify ourselves as individuals and had to work toward a team that had to solve the problem at hand as one. Communication was deemed as the biggest challenge and we had to strategize on how to overcome it. By understanding what communication and team communication is, Gottesdiener (2002) proceeds by saying, we enlightened ourselves on good methods of team communication and how to improve them. We defined communication as the art of passing on both ideas and thoughts form one person to another. Belbin (2010) state that team communication as an art that entails the alignment of every given team member, in a manner or rather position to which they can comprehend same concepts and ideas in a similar way. This was led by tabling our ideas and thoughts of what we know about communication. By knowing what we understood by communication, we set out to research on what else we needed to know and understand. We adapted an open discussion forum as a strategy upon the team communication improvement practice. This was to aid the level of comprehension of our knowledge in communication and how best to put the new knowledge to use. After our findings on communication were tabled, Avery, Walker, Murphy (2001) insists that we as a team sat down to evaluate the findings. The findings that the team settled for as characters to a good team communication were; clarity, good listening quality, correct punctuation, clarity of thoughts and patience upon explaining thoughts and ideas. We were to apply the knowledge collected in respect to communication as a problem and solve it. All this was in an effort to deduce good strategies for team communication through the project. Ultimately the team’s performance was great. Adair (1998) says that we as members were glued to the definite goal of the project. This is evident in the manner in which we selected our team leader. It was through him that, the team bonded and remained motivated and committed to their work. Individuals’ efforts and responsibilities were well delegated and the manner in which they were achieved is evident that the team’s functioning and performance was ideal to me. As a team we noted and recommended that there were factors we could adapt to improve our overall performance. The improvement of the team coordination among the members was one of the recommendations. This was to be achieved through better communication and understanding among members. Motivation and encouragement of team members to be more open for team discussion. It through discussion that the team tends to listen to team ideas and help in making decisions that shall ultimately be used to meet the project objective or goal. The powers and duties allocated to the team leader were to encourage the leader to be bold and strong when addressing issues of concern to the team or the project. Encouragement of team members in an effort to enhance individuals’ performance was vital as well. This was followed with the keeping track of team members by the team leader. He was to ensure that our performance was unquestionable. In case of any trouble and issues that aroused within the team, it was up to the leader to resolve the issues. Lastly upon delegation of duties and responsibility to team members, a better understanding of individuals’ skills and capabilities is vital to ensure appropriate delegation. This practice ensures that team members are allocated duties within their comfort zone. By so doing, team members will deliver to their best and improve the overall quality of the team’s performance toward achieving its goal. Conclusion The EWB project has been a great experience for me. I am glad for all the help from my team members and to everything that I have experienced and learned from them. I will be glad to work with them given another opportunity as it will be an experience worth re living. References ADAIR, J. (1998). Leadership skills. London, Institute of personnel and development. AVERY, C. M., WALKER, M. A., & MURPHY, E. O. (2001). Teamwork is an individual skill: getting your work done when sharing responsibility. San Francisco, Berrett-Koehler. BELBIN, R. M. (2010). Management teams why they succeed or fail. Amsterdam, Butterworth-Heinemann. http://public.eblib.com/EBLPublic/PublicView.do?ptiID=535052. BELBIN, R. M. (2010). Team roles at work. Oxford, Butterworth-Heinemann. Dorgan, K. I. (2011). The best business books ever: the most influential management books you'll never have time to read. New York, Basic Books. GOTTESDIENER, E. (2002). Requirements by collaboration: workshops for defining needs. Boston, Addison-Wesley. KOWERT, P. A. (2002). Groupthink or deadlook when do leaders learn from their advisors? Albany, State Univ. of New York Press. SMITH, P. G. (2007). Flexible product development: building agility for changing markets. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass. Read More