Now we're ready to apply what we know to the CanGo work team. The initial meeting of the team assigned with the task of developing the "dog and pony" show did not go well. Let's look at some of the problems in the team building process and review some possible solutions. Using principles for building effective work teams, choose the best solution for each work team problem depicted in the Introductory Video.
Let's see how well you answered the questions.
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Unclear Goals |
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Your Answer:
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Correct Answer: e. Provide a clear statement of the project's objectives at the first team meeting. |
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Maria was very unclear about what was involved in the project assigned to the team and she didn't provide a timeline. A written statement of some basic objectives and a timeline would have gotten the team off to a better start. |
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Limited External Communication |
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Your Answer:
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Correct Answer: a. Designate a contact person for the team to utilize as needed. |
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This project requires communication and information from many other people at CanGo. The team's chances for success would have improved if it had access to a contact person who handles requests for information and keeps track of needs. |
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Unclear Reward Structure |
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Your Answer:
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Correct Answer: c. Monitor the team's work during the course of the project and recognize progress. |
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When the team was formed, it was clear that this project was important. However, no system was implemented for rewarding the performance of individual members and it was not clear whether they were to be rewarded as a team or as individuals. Maria should have at least set up a schedule for receiving progress reports so that she could recognize the team's success. |
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Limited Sense of Urgency |
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Your Answer:
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Correct Answer: b. Explain the importance of the project and set a tight deadline for its completion. |
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The team, did not have a strong sense of urgency because they were not provided with a specific deadline for project completion. They knew that the project was important because it was concerned with CanGo's IPO, but they were not aware of the time pressure. |
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5. |
Confusion over Resources |
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Your Answer:
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Correct Answer: d. Request that the team prepare a list of items needed to complete the project. |
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It does not make sense to prepare a budget for a project that will last two weeks, but in order for the team to be successful, it needs the resources to complete the project. Preparing a list of necessary items would ensure that the team received the appropriate resources. |
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