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ITM444 Group Process

ITM444 Group Process. Dr. Constantinos K. Coursaris Spring 2012 http://itm.cas.msu.edu. Today ’ s Agenda. Quick status reports Brief lecture on groups and teamwork Self-analysis on group process Next class: Start project planning Risks, Milestones, etc. Key issues/challenges

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ITM444 Group Process

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  1. ITM444Group Process Dr. Constantinos K. Coursaris Spring 2012 http://itm.cas.msu.edu

  2. Today’s Agenda • Quick status reports • Brief lecture on groups and teamwork • Self-analysis on group process • Next class: • Start project planning • Risks, Milestones, etc. • Key issues/challenges • Start making your task list • Read IGPM, Ch 8 & 9 ITM444

  3. Status reports • Met with client? • Role/responsibility matrix? • Primary contact? • Communication plan? ITM444

  4. Timesheets! • Each member of the team must prepare a timesheet • Turn them in to your team’s project manager • The project manager will summarize and give me ONE SHEET for your team ITM444

  5. What makes a high-performing team? • Creativity • Shared team vision • A LOT of Communication • Efficient Communication • Being proactive • Goal-oriented • Follow through • Competence • Accountability • Objectivity ITM444

  6. Relationship with team members • Diversity among team members • Managing dependencies • Enthusiasm / Commitment to project • Flexibility • Work well within group & with client • Communication! ITM444

  7. Aspects of Performance • Efficiency vs effectiveness • Task objectives • Deadlines • Budgets • Process objectives • Longer term ability to work together and with others • Personal development ITM444

  8. Task versus Process • Task (or content): what you are doing • Progress reports, presentation, final report • Process: how you are doing it • Patterns of interaction (participation, influence, etc.) • Potential performance = (group potential) minus (process loss) ITM444

  9. Typical Process Failures • “Blow-ups” • Struggle for control: overt, harmful conflict • Members withdraw (or are pushed out) • “Group Think”: No critical input • We are having fun, we are great, our project is great • “Stuck in the starting gate” • No clarity of roles or norms • Symptom of covert, avoided conflict ITM444

  10. Enabling conditions for effective teams • Group structure, including: •  task structure (clear goals, etc) •  group composition (right people) •  group norms (agreement on how to work) ITM444

  11. Enabling conditions (cont.) • Organizational context •  reward system (incentives to work together) •  educational & informational system (training & other tools available) • Available, expert assistance regarding both content and process, such as: •  skill and knowledge •  performance strategies ITM444

  12. Bottom Line • High-performing teams don’t just happen • Good performance is enabled by good management • Group composition, task, norms… • Incentives, training, support… • It’s not just personalities or styles. ITM444

  13. Typical ways to foster failure • Call it a team, but manage as individuals • Individual rather than team incentives •  Too much or too little guidance • Micro-managing the work • Not providing enough guidance ITM444

  14. More ways to foster failure • Lack of structure • Assemble a large group, tell them in general terms what needs to be done, and let them work out the details • Set challenging goals, but skimp on supports ITM444

  15. How is your group doing? Some “process indicators” • Participation: Does everyone participate? • Influence: Does anyone dominate? • Group climate: Comfortable? Open? • Membership: Can you tell who is on your team (shouldn’t be a problem for you) • Feelings: Acknowledged? Handled? ITM444

  16. Examples of good process • Participation • People are on time & prepared • Everyone talks • Everyone carries their weight • Influence • Nobody dominates discussions • Everyone’s ideas are considered ITM444

  17. Examples of good process • Climate • Comfortable • Able to have some conflict and be OK • Feelings • Can be expressed • When expressed, people listen • On balance, more positive than negative ITM444

  18. Examples of process problems • Participation • Late or absent at meetings • Not talking in meetings • Not “carrying their weight” • Influence (out of balance) • Some individuals dominate discussions • Individuals’ ideas are ignored ITM444

  19. Examples of process problems • Climate • “Chilly” – no humor or fun • “Party” – never settles down to work • Factions/sub-groups that compete • Feelings • Always hidden/never expressed • Anger • Fear (don’t want to rock the boat…) • Vulnerability (don’t want to look bad) ITM444

  20. Investing in Process • Put process on your agenda • Go around and “check in” at every meeting • Review process indicators • Pay attention to group structure • Roles, norms, expectations • Make adjustments if necessary ITM444

  21. Investing in Process • Effective feedback • Descriptive, timely, specific, actionable • Remember: conflict can be healthy • Watch for and discuss problems • Check perceptions & assumptions. . . • Acknowledge & deal with feelings ITM444

  22. Johari Window & Group Process Known to self Not known to self Known to others Free or Open Blind Not known to others Avoidedor Hidden Unknown ITM444

  23. Strategies for improvement • Known to self (but not others)? • Be assertive: Participate! • Share your observations and feelings, or their value will be lost to the group • Known to others (but not self)? • Solicit feedback (others need to give it) • Listen to feedback ITM444

  24. Feedback guidelines • Timely • “I notice you are late to this meeting.” • “You were late to our meeting last month.” • Specific • “You are five minutes late.” • “You are pretty late.” ITM444

  25. Feedback guidelines • Descriptive (rather than evaluative) • “You are 5 minutes late” • “You obviously don’t care about this project.” • Related to shared & agreed upon goals • “We need to start on time because we have a lot to do.” • “We need to start on time so I can go shopping …” ITM444

  26. Group exercise • Get into your teams • Consider process indicators • I will put the list back up… • Write down your assessment of how the team is doing • A numeric 1-5 rating • Reasons or evidence to support your number • Discuss as a group & arrive at a consensus rating ITM444

  27. For each of these 5 indicators • Rate your group (5=great, 3=OK, 1=awful) • Provide examples or evidence • Participation? • Influence (balance/imbalance)? • Group climate? • Feelings? • Efficiency/effectiveness? ITM444

  28. Next class • Start making your task list • Core of your project plan • Start project planning • Risks, Milestones, etc. • Key issues/challenges • Read IGPM, Ch 8 & 9 ITM444

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