Analyze the dynamics of a task team of which you were a member.

Answer the following questions:

1. Who was the team’s leader(s)? How did the leader(s)

emerge? Were there any changes in or challenges to the original leader?

2. Describe the contribution each member made to the team and the roles each person played.

3. Did any members of the team officially or unofficially drop out? Did anyone join after the team had begun working?

How did you deal with the loss or addition of a team member, both in terms of getting the work done and in terms of helping people work together?

4. What planning did your team do at the start of the project?

Did you stick to the plan or revise it? How did the team decide that revision was necessary?

5. How did your team make decisions? Did you vote? Reach decisions by consensus?

6. What problems or conflicts arose? Did the team deal with them openly? To what extent did they interfere with the team’s task?

7. Evaluate your team both in terms of its task and in terms of the satisfaction members felt. How did this team compare with other task teams you’ve been part of? What made it better or worse?

8. What were the strengths of the team? Weaknesses?
9. How did the team’s strengths and weaknesses impact the quality of the work produced?
10. If you had the project to do over again, what would you do differently?
As you answer the questions, ■ Be honest. You won’t lose points for reporting that your team had problems or did something “wrong.”
■ Show your knowledge of good team dynamics. That is, if your team did something wrong, show that you know what should have been done. Similarly, if your team worked well, show that you know why it worked well.
■ Be specific. Give examples or anecdotes to support your claims.
As your instructor directs,

a. Discuss your answers with the other team members.

b. Present your findings in an individual response to your instructor.

c. Join with the other team members to write a collaborative email to your instructor.