Team work and Team Building

1. Team work and Team Building ECEn 490

2. Lecture 1 review • Did you find the class website? • Have you met with your team? • Have you met with your adviser? • Have you downloaded the “Design Team Process Worksheet”? ECEn 490

3. EE 490 Team Exercise • The Assignment • Your team has been given the assignment to build a tower. The tower will be constructed out of paper and each team can only use 10 sheets in the final structure. You also have a roll of tape to assist in the construction. The Winning team will receive an award for their outstanding effort. ECEn 490

4. EE 490 Team Exercise • The Materials • Your construction kit consists of 20 sheets of paper, a roll of tape and scissors. • The Preparation • You will have 10 minutes to develop your plan for constructing your tower. At the end of the 10 minutes, you will all put away any practice materials, and prepare for the actual construction. ECEn 490

5. EE 490 Team Exercise • The Build • You will have 2 1/2 minutes to build your actual tower. You must start with 10 new sheets of paper, no materials from the planning stage can be used. You can cut strips of tape for the construction process. • The Goal: Build the tallest tower!! • The tallest free-standing tower will be the winner. (can’t be attached to the floor) • Good luck. • Prof Clifford ECEn 490

6. Discussion on Team Dynamics • What leadership roles did you notice in your team? • How were the roles decided? • What other roles did team members assume? • How were decisions made in your team? • What did your team do well? • What should your team do differently? • What activities would ensure the best results for the team? ECEn 490

7. The Productivity of Teams Inefficient Teams • Poor cooperation • Waiting for team to decide. • Little or nor work outside team meetings. • Assignments poorly coordinated. • Hidden agendas • Bickering among team members. • Duplicated efforts • Lack of front end planning Independent teams • Good cooperation among team members. • Tasks are well defined • Team members work independently • Little or no sharing of roles and responsibilities. • Team members motivated by individual success. Super Teams • High degree of collaboration on assignments • Ideas build on each other. • Team members challenge each other. • Team is motivated to win as a team. • High degree of honest, open communications. Productivity 1+1= 1 2 3+ ECEn 490

8. The top five Keys to effective teams Learn the importance of discussion and agreement on team decisions. Understand team roles and relationships. Learn to prepare for team activities, then reflect on the results and assess team performance Learn the importance of documenting decisions and results. Learn the importance of communications among team members. ECEn 490

9. Some suggestions for your Project teams Decide what roles will be required to complete your project. Identify who will take the lead in each role identified above. Develop a written description of the role. Decide on a regular time for having team meetings. Keep written notes of team activities. Each team member should keep a lab record to capture ideas and results. ECEn 490

10. Role of the Team Leader • Each team will have a designated team leader. • The team leader will be responsible for most of the communication with Brother Clifford. • They must have active email, and be willing to distribute messages to all team members. • The leader will also be responsible to see that all assignments are completed and submitted on time. • The team leader is responsible to see that the team meetings are held, action items are completed, and that team meeting notes are recorded. • The team leader is responsible to see that design reviews are held with the class instructors. ECEn 490

11. How will you choose a team leader? • The role of the team leader is no more important than any other role on the team. It is just a different role. • Choose a team leader who has the interest and desire in developing some of his/her leadership skills. • Don’t make the choice of the team leader a popularity contest. Chose someone who you can support. • Make sure the leader has the time and interest to take on this role. • Others on the team should take leadership roles in various assignments during the semester. ECEn 490

12. Importance of Team Meetings • Coordinate efforts • Identify problems • Make team decisions • Keep the team on track • Motivate and encourage team members. • Provide accountability for assignments. • But don’t wait for the meeting if you have an important issue ECEn 490

13. Team Meeting Suggestions • Have regular agenda items • Review current Schedule • Open discussion of issues and problems • Review completed assignments • Get a status report from each team member • Ask each team member to submit agenda items in advance ECEn 490

14. Potential Team Meeting Problems • Meetings don’t cover all important topics • Provide an agenda with critical issues identified. • Meetings take too long • Establish time limits on the agenda. • Meeting too infrequently • Have a regularly scheduled time. • Decisions don’t stick. Have to make the same decision multiple times. • Prepare a written statement of all major decisions. • Problem team member(s) • One-on-one discussion with individual(s) with ideas for improvement. ECEn 490

15. Team Member Expectations • Not all team members have the same expectations • Individual expectations shape behavior • Teams will function better if expectations are discussed openly ECEn 490

16. Email Homework Assignments • There will usually be a short assignment given at the end of most lectures pertaining to the material covered in the class and in the text. • In general these questions are designed to simulate some group discussion in your team meetings. • The assignment is to be discussed as a team and a single team email response is expected. • All email assignments are due by 9 a.m. of the next class period. ECEn 490

17. Homework Read Chapter 2, Development Processes and Organizations, or the notes for Lecture 3. Decide on a team management site. (It doesn’t need to be in a final form) Complete the “Design Team Process Worksheet”. Email a copy to me at dmcranch@byu.edu. List three things your team learned from the “build the tower” experience. Email me with your responses. ECEn 490

18. Extra material • The following slides illustrate some of the more common leadership styles. Look for these in your team. ECEn 490

19. Team Decision Making and Leadership Processes • King • King for a day • Democracy • Consensus • Anarchy ECEn 490

20. King • Team leader makes most decisions (with or without discussion) • Advantages • Rapid decisions • Usually coordinated decisions • Disadvantages • Decisions constrained by king’s knowledge • Less than full support of some team members ECEn 490

21. King for a Day • Same as King, except different team members decides based on topic, time, etc • Advantages • Rapid decisions • Decision made by more knowledgeable person • Disadvantages • Decisions constrained by king’s knowledge • Less than full support of some team members • Some decisions may not get made ECEn 490

22. Democracy • Discussion, majority vote rules • Advantages • Collects knowledge from entire team • Entire team will be engaged • Disadvantages • May split team into factions • May create “underground” opposition • Decisions may influenced by non relevant factors ECEn 490

23. Consensus • Discussion of alternatives, pros and cons • Improving of proposals • Elimination of objections and buy in • Advantages • Excellent at gathering all team knowledge • Full team support of decision • Disadvantages • Takes a long time • Sometimes it never converges ECEn 490

24. Anarchy • Please avoid this at all costs!! • Team member make decisions independent of team • No coordination or communication • Leads to • Duplication of effort • Omitted tasks • Harsh Feelings ECEn 490

25. Team Communication Frequency Probability of Communicating at Least Once per Week (%) Separation Distance (meters) ECEn 490