Team+assessment

Lena-

Strengths

There are several strengths that we have as a team. Something we definitely excel at is how respectful we are of one another. This can be seen during our meetings (in person or over the phone), especially when others share their ideas. While working on team assignments, we do not have the option of taking what everyone says and including it in our memos. In addition, not everything that each person says is totally relevant to the memo. Even so, we listen to what everyone’s opinion is on each task and never degrade anyone for suggesting something that may not be useful in the final draft of an assignment. Respect is an important quality to have when working with a group, especially for an extended period of time. Our group also started off strong by choosing a widespread range of meeting times. We meet in person before class on Tuesdays (and often after for a few minutes), and we also hold phone conferences on Thursdays and Sundays. While once in a while someone does miss a meeting, we have stayed relatively consistent. In addition, these meetings add up to more than the required meeting time set by our professors. This makes us a stronger team because it shows our devotion and willingness to work together. Finally, once we do have a finished product completed, our assignments are usually well done. It does take a lot of effort, frustration, and hard work to complete them- however we always have something to show for it. Handing in assignments that are done well is not only beneficial to our grade but also an indication that all of us have good ideas. When these ideas come together, it shows that we can function successfully as a team, even despite our differences in character.

Weaknesses However, we also struggle in some areas. A good example of this is during our meetings. While, as was mentioned before, we have picked a range of days to meet, our meetings are not always productive. Usually, a good portion of the beginning of the meeting is spent figuring out how to approach the conversation. This is a weakness of ours because, as a team, we could get a lot more done if we figured out a better way to be productive. Generally speaking, we also struggle when it comes to open communication. While in the recent weeks this has improved, overall we have had some trouble. This can be witnessed during our phone conferences. When someone suggests something that another person does not like, instead of discussing it and coming to an agreement, the person who does not agree tends to shut down. On the other hand, when the group is at a disagreement and we are generally split in half, we almost never make a choice during the call. Instead, we decide to revisit it at a later time. This shows a certain weak aspect to our confrontation and communication skills as a team.

Areas of Development

All of our weaknesses should be our focus when it comes to areas of development. In order to minimize our disagreements and become more productive, it would be a good idea for us to develop an agenda before each meeting. This will help keep us on track. Furthermore, and as we already have decided, we must do more reading and independent work before our phone conference on Thursdays. That way, everyone is willing to contribute more and has a better understanding of the assignment. This is also helpful because it has the potential to minimize disagreements. Finally, it would be a good idea for us to develop a plan of how we want to approach the assignments before actually discussing them. When it comes to communication, as a team we must agree to be more vocal about how we feel (yet still remain respectful). Internalizing the problems we feel has only had negative consequences, as the problems have snowballed and caused distraction from our assignments. Improving how we approach assignments and how we communicate as a team will only benefit us in the long run.

Some readings I think are relevant:

- The Discipline of Teams, a team is described as a “small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, set of performance goats, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable.” - Criteria listed in Managing Your Team (For example the first question asked is whether or not the team’s output meets the standards of those who have to use it) - Analyzing Work Groups - When Good Teams Go Wrong: team members “become adept at organizing and managing themselves” to which management responds by “taking the team’s self-sufficiency or granted and ignores team members when they ask for help or try to warn of impending trouble.” (This can be applied to us without using the management example)

Peter

The team has established a strong start with the program. Assignments for both 520 and 521 have been comprehensive and detailed to reflect a thorough thought process and high quality of effort on behalf of all team members. We have also come to realize and accept that we are all different. This will offer challenges to us, but it also offers opportunities. The realization of our differences and acceptance of it puts us in a unique position to use that to our advantage. We have the ability to challenge each other, assist one another and provide an internal organization that will never allow us to fall into the “groupthink” trap.
 * Achievements**

The diversity of leadership styles, strengths, backgrounds and experiences are all principle building blocks of whom we are as individuals and who we can become as a team. This collage of talent that is brought to the team provides the opportunity and skills to look at issues from multiple perspectives. This ability allows us to challenge each other and shape our discussions and conclusions in a well thought out manner. We force each other to step out of our comfort zones, engage in discussions and develop conclusions that are joint conclusions. The individuals’ sense of dedication is consistent and real when it comes to the work and efforts of all the team members. Regardless of health, work, personal issues, all team members do not hesitate to go the extra mile to support the team and our assignments.
 * Strengths**

Limited amounts time and the coordination of six individual, complex and demanding schedules has been and will continue to be a challenge for our team. Team members have a plethora of diverse professional and personal commitments that coupled with the demands of the program have demonstrated and have the potential for additional conflicts for the team. Further, the team has a geogpaphical challenge, which has the ability to unintentially affect and compromises the team and its plans. Team members have made valiant efforts, including making compromises and sacrifices on their schedules, to support and facilitate the demands of the teams and our respective assignments. The team is conscious of the issue and appreciates the need to remind ourselves that the issue requires active efforts on everyone’s part to minimize any negative impacts to the team. A pressing issue for the team is to develop its organizational skills. We always have the best intentions, but democracy takes over, causing discussions to go off track and waste time. A more formal structure is needed with the team, but that can only happen if all of the team comes to grips with the issue. Communication is essential to the equation of our team being a success. We are in the early stages of building relationships with one another and we fully yet do not have that level of trust, respect and comfort. As in any relationship, this is not something, if genuine, that occurs over night. A true and valued relationship, based on trust, respect and admiration, is something that takes time. This is a process that will compromise of many interactions and events that through time, will develop and strengthen the bonds that we share and have as a team. Self and group accountability has been an issue for the team. Partially due to the lack of comfort level and the limited amount of time that we have with each other. Sometimes we forget that direct and honest communication, as hard as it may be, is always the best path of choice. There is a strong level of respect for each other, but we need to follow through on our commitments, per our charter, specifically, when one or many fail to follow through on commitments, we all need to look at holding ourselves and each other accountable as a basic charge as being part of the team.
 * Developmental challenges**

Gwynne- complete reviewed 10-14 Achievements For the first group memo, the team scored one of the higher grades in the class. This showed that our final output is of high quality. We have also pulled together a very thorough team charter. Another achievement is the fact that we have bonded so quickly. Many of us are able to talk to the other members of our team openly. This open line of communication will help us succeed.

Strength Our group is very good at data analysis. We can look at a case pick out the problem. We also have a few group members who understand the financials of a company and can explain them. A couple of the members are very good at editing and rewriting. This comes in very handy when we are merging different voices into one paper. We work well at the last minute. We are able to pull a quality paper together. Even though most people don’t like doing things the last minute, a lot of projects in the work environment are last minute. People need to learn how to operate in these stressful situations.

As mentioned previously memos have been worked on until the last minute, this is an indication that we do need to plan better. We have had issues with people not showing up to meetings or saying that they only certain amount of time to meet. It was very difficult to find a time we could all meet so we need to hold each other accountable to making the meetings. The meetings have gotten away from us at times. We need to have an agenda and a plan of attack for every meeting. The last issue is that while most of us had boot camp weekend to get to know each other we did have one group member who was added after that weekend. We all need time to fully bond with him and form a good relationship with him. Face to face meetings will really help with the bonding.

At first we viewed our members as a group, we did not feel like we were acting as a team. After reviewing the TheDiscipline of Teams case again, this may not be the case. There was a table that listed qualities of a group vs a team. Of the 7 qualities listed, three of them Seal Team Six is definitely exhibiting. In terms of the other four qualities listed, the team is on the right path to achieve them. None of the group characteristics applied to us.

How to improve? Work plan

We can improve by coming prepared to each and every meeting.This will mean readings completed, notes taken, and thoughts gathered. We should also start taking meeting minutes. This way we will have a record of each and every meeting. These minutes should be posted within 24 hours of the meeting. Everybody needs to respect that we all have lives outside of school. With this respect of others means arriving to meetings on time and willing to meet additional times if the team feels it is necessary.The charter was written very well, the team just needs to follow it.

Carole

Achievements of Seal Team Six

The team is composed of a group of intelligent, bright and hardworking individuals with varying abilities, perspectives and talents. The team has been able to accomplish several milestones within the past few initial weeks in this MBA program. The team has shown a lot of resilience and ability for individuals to step up to the plate and volunteer when necessary. The team has never failed to accomplish the goals set before them. From the MBA bootcamp experience to the first weeks of classes, Seal Team Six is a team that can pull together, despite varying perspectives and individual personality differences, and make things happen. For example, the grade from our first memo together was one of the highest in the entire cohort.

This team has many strengths worth mentioning. In particular, the group is very expressive and vocal about issues, cases, and has communicated fairly well overall.

The team has worked very well in sharing on an academic level. Weekly homework case questions are answered by team members in a shared documents through google. We also have a wikipage devoted entirely to communicate and collaboration on projects. In many ways, we are exemplary in the way we have shared information, ideas and knowledge.

The team also meets regularly over the time suggested by the MBA faculty. We meet 3 times a week spread out over the week, Tuesday, Thursdays and Sundays. The team exhibits dedication, willingness and commitment to the team’s performance.

From the very beginning, at MBA bootcamp, I noticed that the group has two extremely strong traits. We are all good listeners and have respect for one another. This is exciting because fundamentally we aren’t lacking in two extremely important skills!

Suggested Improvements

A team that allows time to mold into one working team instead of a group will be a powerful one. Time, patience and effort placed into bonding with all team members including our newest addition will improve the way in which we work together. Seal Team Six needs an agenda and a long term plan for all courses taken together. At the moment, the group fails to stay on track and there is little order to the way the team meetings are run. Thus, we are not as efficient as we need to be. We have written a charter. It needs to be followed in terms of timeliness, attendance, and assignment and function of roles. We have roles, but have not instituted them for each of the projects as of yet. I think once we do, things will improve as well. The group is only starting on its journey toward building lasting relationships based on trust and respect. It seems this is a long term goal that we should stayed committed to. The group needs to openly discuss issues with each other and also be open to taking constructive criticism and understand that we are only human and accept each other’s failings. We have dedicated ourselves to a journey not only of discovering business and the course content, but about ourselves. We are here to grow as whole individuals as well. This means learning humility and being willing to look at ourselves honestly and change in positive ways to become better people.