Course reflection - Assignment Example

While studying this course, ‘International Food and Beverages’ team work has been so helpful to me. Two heads are better than one. Working in a team always makes work easier. It’s a bond which promotes unity, reliability and support. Team work means a sense of unity, of enthusiasm for common interests and obligations, as developed among a group of people closely associated in a task. The oxford dictionary defines teamwork as the joint action of a group of people, especially when successful and efficient (Annet 2000).

Team work has supported my more empowered way of working, it has removed limitations which might have prevented me from doing my job properly, it has Encouraged multi-disciplinary work where teams cut across organizational divides, enhances flexibility and awareness, especially the ability to respond to change and also Promoted the sense of attainment, equity and camaraderie. When managed properly, team work is a better way to work (Weyn, 2002). Despite the benefits of working in a team, it has not been easy.

I have encountered different challenges. At times, Members could not feel mutually accountable to one another for the team’s objectives. There was a lack of commitment and effort, conflict between team goals and members’ personal goals, or poor collaboration. Secondly, decision making have been difficult. Team members would be rigidly adhering to their positions during decision making or making repeated arguments rather than introducing new information. Thirdly, poor communication has been another problem.

Team members would interrupt or talk over one another. There would be consistent silence from some members during meetings, allusions to problems but failure to formally address them, or false consensus (Jone 2005). From my team work experience, team work can be effectively managed through; first, building trust among team members. If trust is lacking it must