Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University Collaboration on Proposal Teams TCO 341, Dr. Grady With additions by Dr. Codone Sources: Ch 4, Markel; Bellamy & McNeill; Barnum & Carliner

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University What we will discuss: Why collaboration is important 3 Stages of collaborative projects How to build an effective team Personality & teaming

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University Advantages of Collaboration Draws on a greater knowledge base Draws on a greater skills base Improves communication among students Helps acclimate you to the writing process

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University Disadvantages of Collaboration Takes more time Can lead to groupthink Can yield a disjointed document Can lead to inequitable workloads Can reduce collaborators’ motivation Can lead to interpersonal conflict

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University What is: Groupthink? A disjointed document? Scope Creep? How can group work discourage progress?

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University Groupthink

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University 1. Initiation: Getting Off to a Good Start Relationship Level get to know members as individuals share backgrounds, histories, assumptions find different competencies Task Level agree on team goal and approach set meeting times, operating agreements brainstorm, gather background information

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University Relationships Shared History: What does it mean? How can it help or hurt proposal writing? How can it hurt or help group writing?

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University 2. Execution: Getting the Job Done Relationship Level conflict areas: control, equal workloads, personality differences, ways to proceed, ideas/goals/values, managing conflicts Task Level difficulty: getting down to actual tasks and decisions see “Collaborator’s Checklist” (p 68 Markel)

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University Execution How does one handle conflict? How do extroverts and introverts handle conflict? How do you manage conflict in a group? What or who causes conflict? Is a small amount of conflict good or bad?

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University 3. Presentation: Pulling It All Together Relationship Level united team effort Task Level closure on the document closure on the presentation practice, peer reviews

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University Deciding on the Model for Collaboration Based on job specialty/interests Based on the stages of the writing process Based on the section of the document Use info from personality styles to help choose model

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University Establishing Team Roles Identify and assign responsibilities Suggestions: project lead technical lead documentation lead Design your own job roles, writing down responsibilities

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University Holding Productive Meetings (Bellamy & Macneill) Allow for initial social interaction (timed) Set and follow an agenda (see p. 60 Markel) Agree on a facilitator (can rotate) Appoint someone to take minutes or notes to the whole group (can rotate) Draft agenda for next meeting Evaluate this meeting

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University Interesting Meetings

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University Building a Strong Team Expect these stages during a long, difficult process: Forming Storming Norming Performing Adjourning

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University Adapting to Personality Types Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) often used in business settings 16 types based on C. Jung’s research Four categories: Extrovert or Introvert (E or I) Sensing or Intuitive (S or N) Thinking or Feeling (T or F) Judging or Perceiving (J or P)

Dr. Susan Codone Mercer University Summary The Collaborative Project on Proposals has 3 goals: Learn proposals Learn teamwork Learn to meet effectively Pay attention to team processes as well as to the proposal tasks and document design