Teamwork

Motivation

Advantages and disadvantages

Example of a meeting Several people agree to meet at 9:00 to write a document. Two arrive at 9:30, and one doesn’t show up at all. One person takes some time to tell another what happened at the last meeting. At about 10:00 the people start discussing new items, though there is no set agenda. The people discuss the title for 30 minutes, including 10 minutes on the font sizes. For about 45 minutes, they brainstorm elements of the heart of their document. They set another meeting for the next day and adjourn without assigning tasks.

Features of meetings

Roles of team members Coordinator Prepares agenda and keeps everyone on task Ensures that everyone is involved Mediates conflicts Ensures all tasks are covered Contributes to the solution or writing

Roles of team members Recorder Writes final solution of the homework Takes notes at meetings Sends reminders Distributes notes and tasks Contributes to the solution or writing

Roles of team members Checker Checks or proofreads the assignment Ensures that all members understand the solution Gives copies of returned homework to members Ensures all tasks are covered Contributes to the solution or writing

Conflict resolution The instructor for a class chooses Pat, Kelly, and Terry to be a team. They talk briefly in lecture and decide to meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 8. At their first meeting, Pat and Kelly show their attempts at the exercises on Homework 1, but Terry has written very little and says, “I didn’t know where to start.” At the second meeting, Pat and Kelly show their full solutions of the problems, but Terry still has very little and says, “I still don’t get it.” The pattern repeats for Homework 2. What are the problems here? How can the students address them?

Conflict resolution Lars, Thor, and Gunnar are a team. Lars and Thor agree on their solutions, but Gunnar often does not. He regularly insists that his solution is better. The three students decide to submit two solutions to the homework—the one by Lars and Thor and the one by Gunnar. What are the problems here? How can the students address them?

Conflict resolution Mandy is upset that another team has Ryne, who is a very good student. Mandy likes her teammates, and her team functions well. However, she thinks her grades could be higher if Ryne were on her team. What are the problems here? How can the students address them?