Team Agreements

1. Team Agreements or How to get teams moving in the right direction…

2. Does this sound familiar? • During class, Team Dysfunctional is formed to work on “The Big Project”. • The team brainstorms numerous good ideas, but no one takes any notes. • At the end of class, everyone goes their separate ways. • Although the team needs to show progress before the next class, they make no plans to meet and have no idea how to contact each other.

3. Somehow… • Two team members manage to meet, but they can only guess at what the rest of the team wants. • Once everyone meets up in class,the rest of the team is unhappy withwhat the first two decided on theirown. • Eventually, the team requests more time from the instructor to work on their ideas. • They set a meeting time for later that week.

4. At the meeting… • Two people are 20 minuteslate. One person never evenshows up. • The meeting starts late, and before much gets done, one person leaves because of a prior commitment. • The team members go their separate ways, and since the whole team wasn’t there, make no plans to meet again.

5. Eventually… • One of the team members assumes most of the workload in order to survive in the class. • The project continues, and in time the team starts to work together. The workload is distributed and the team meets regularly. • Unfortunately, the early missed meetings and work imbalance causes animosity among the team members that never completely goes away.

6. In the end… • The final project looks like the thrown-together mess it was and gets a poor grade. • The team vows to neverwork with each other ever again.

7. How could this situation have been avoided???

8. Team Agreements

9. Team Agreements • Teams that don’t set ground rules from the start almost always fight an uphill battle to coordinate work. • Creating a Team Agreement when a project begins is an effective way of getting a team started. • Having each team member author and sign the agreement increases individual “ownership” of the Team Agreement.

10. Team Agreements Address such issues as: • Responsibilities and expectations • Communication • Participation • Decision making and problem solving • Managing disagreements • Conduct during and between meetings • Consequences

11. Team Agreements Address the issue of team member roles: • Facilitator – makes sure all members have an opportunity to participate • Mediator – keeps the discussion directed • Recorder – makes written records These roles may rotate.

12. Team Agreements What typical position may be missing?

13. Team Agreements • In the Team Agreement there may be NO one assigned team leader. • Rather, leadership can be a naturally shifting position that changes with the needed knowledge base to complete the present problem. The team needs “leadership”, not a designated leader. • This can alleviate many problems in the group dynamics as well.

14. In Practice • When forming groups in class, have students create and sign a Team Agreement that covers: • Communications – e.g. meeting times • Participation – e.g. responsibilities of the individual members • Decision Making and Problem Solving • Responsibilities and Expectations – e.g. team goals • Methods for Managing Disagreements • Conduct during Meetings – e.g. who is facilitator, mediator, or recorder • Conduct between meetings

15. Sample Team Agreements Team A • We pledge to follow the Golden Rule • We will work together to complete group work and labs • When meetings are established, we will do our best to attend and come prepared and on time • When working together, we will help to establish a positive work environment • If problems arise, they will be discussed with any or all of the group members • Each group member must have input at every meeting • No member will have a permanent job as jobs will be flexible and go with each person’s strengths

16. Sample Team Agreements Team B – Part 1 • Group Organization • Two group meetings to be scheduled before the end of class every Monday • Check e-mail regularly and stay in contact with group members • Minimize absences and inform group members prior to absence

17. Sample Team Agreements Team B – Part 2 • Meeting Format • Focus on current task and work to accomplish it before moving on to other business • Work efficiently during group meetings and minimize tangent conversations • Major decisions always involve three or four group members present • Keep group members informed as to all important issues and concerns - no surprises • Any divisive issues are to be discussed thoroughly before any voting is done • Document all group discussions and collective ideas

18. Sample Team Agreements Team B – Part 3 • General Guidelines • Address personal or work problems as they arise • Always turn in journals and remind other team members to do so • Divide work fairly and discuss any problems • Arrive at class meetings on time and be prepared to work • Be open to all new ideas • Keep good documentation of your work and distribute it to others • This team agreement is open to modification and will be reviewed regularly

19. Questions? Observations? Experiences to Share? ?

20. References • Project Management and Teamwork, Karl A. Smith, McGraw-Hill, Boston, 2000. • Using Student Teams in the Classroom: A Faculty Guide, Ruth Federman Stein and Sandra Hurd, Anker Publishing Co., Bolton, MA, 2000, p. 51-54 • Tools and Tactics for Design, Peter G. Dominick et al, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 2001.