Team Dynamics Project
Dynamic 8
Introduction
- Working on a team is an effective skill that is used across the spectrum of a lifetime. Understanding the way in which a team interacts with one another is crucial to enhancing this skill.
- The Dynamic 8 is composed of various personalities and team styles which include contributors, collaborators, and communicators however no identified challengers.
- The Dynamic 8 will share with you the journey to uncovering the purpose, process, useful tools and the not so useful tools that were utilized. We will also share with you the team dynamics concepts, the data that was used, recommendation developments as well as the recommendations.
What is the purpose?
To provide Lewis University Healthcare Leadership students with recommendations for future teamwork, based on team experience and analyzed data.
Process
- Working on a team of any kind can be a challenging process.
- When a team has more contributors and collaborators than communicators and no challengers it becomes unbalanced.
- Dynamic 8 had to start the teams process by challenging each member to demonstrate their challenger style.
- Team building exercises were also used which encouraged each team member to actively participate.
Tools
- Virtual communication -- Blackboard Discussion Board
- Parker Team Player Survey
- Purpose Statement
- Team Building
- Agenda
- Project Management Plan
- Time keeper
- Scribe
- Google Docs
- Smore
- Survey Monkey
- Quick Team Assessments
- Previous/Current Student Surveys
Team Dynamics Concepts
- Addressing Team Problems
- Avoiding Group-think
- Team Culture
- Listening and Questioning
- Creativity
- What we Learned
Team Experience
- Parker Team Player Analysis Styles-Contributors & Collaborators
- Quick Team Assessment
- Survey Creation
- Virtual Communication
- "Following the Leader"
Recommendation Development
- Team effort seen over the weeks
- Virtual Capture - our experience
- Week 4-5 decision making
- Data Analysis - 2 team members
- Time restraints
- Skype Meeting and Phone calls
Our Recommendations
- The Team Parker Analysis should be initially done to asses the teams weaknesses and strengths.
- Weekly re-evaluate the effectiveness of goals related to team Parker player styles during group discussion
- Designate guidelines of when feedback is required and include reply by time frames.
- Designate at least two individuals to do virtual capture throughout every week.
- Record your findings in an agreed upon location i.e Google doc, thread, file exchange.
- Clarify on Bb what type of response or feedback is required and use reply by dates to specify when the response is needed.
- Set team rules and keep a thread of these rules
- designate a virtual team leader as well as a team leader for each meeting.
- Changing the title headline to reflect what is being posted
- face to face meeting capture, this should be stored in an agreed upon location i.e Google doc, file exchange, thread.
- Team building activities: include enough time to go over the importance and gain feedback from the group.
Conclusion
- There is no such thing as a perfect team, however identifying weaknesses on a team is both crucial and challenging. Identifying weaknesses can help students better understand how to improve them.
- The biggest challenge the Dynamic 8 faced was self reflection and proper identification of those weaknesses.
- The Dynamic 8 used a variety of methods which aided in the ongoing dynamics of the team. Team building exercises, Google docs, Smore, and virtual capture were the most tools used.
- These learning tools were beneficial to the team as well as achieving our goals. We recommend that future students utilize these learning tools as well.