1. As a group, brainstorm about different strategies for coping with the Beth problem. List as many possibilities as you can think of.

2. As a group, come to a consensus about the top strategy. What recommendation would you make to Dr. Spock about Beth? Keep in mind that successful teamwork is graded part of this design project. Why is that strategy your groups selection?

3. Now, take the position of Dr. Spock. In addition to teaching chemical engineering, she is also trying to instill in her students some elements of teamwork. She knows that all groups everywhere have a Beth, to some extent. Her opinion is that youve got to deal with the circumstances, such as they are; changing the circumstances isnt always possible. How should she react to this problem, after it is explained by the 3 active students?

The Problem with Beth

Four students, Hal, Sue, Frank, and Beth are working together on a term project in a required senior-level chemical engineering class. The project will be worth 25% of the final grade and lasts for the duration of the semester. Each of the students comes to the class with their own individual personalities and set of life experiences.

Hal likes learning, likes school, is outgoing, and is planning to go to graduate school after graduation. Hes the kind of guy you love to hate; hes got high grades, is popular, and everything seems easy for him. Hal is definitely on the fast-track to great things. His expenses are paid by a full-ride academic scholarship, so he doesnt need to work at a job while in school. His gpa is 3.9.

Sue is very active on campus, and likes to participate in as many organizations as possible. Sometimes shes stretched pretty thin, and her classes arent always her top priority. Her parents are paying most of her school expenses, but she is working about 10 hours per week for pocket money. Shes an excellent organizer and manager, and always gets her homework done. After graduation, she plans to get a job in industry, where she hopes eventually to get a managerial position. Her gpa is 3.0.

Frank is an average student. Hes very bright, but his interests are often outside the classroom. Skiing, hiking, Frisbee, and church activities hold more interest for him than studying. He usually manages to get his homework done, often just before class, and somehow manages to do pretty well on exams. Franks education is being paid for by loans and work-study. He hasnt yet thought too much about what he wants to do after graduation, but hes sure hell take a few months in Europe before getting serious about looking for a job. His gpa is 2.8.

Beth is in a different category altogether. Shes been in school a while, calls herself a slacker, and claims to be interested primarily in partying. She rarely submits his homework and often misses class. She is currently enrolled in the design class in question for the second time, after failing the first time. Beths parents paid for the first 3 years of her education but cut her off after her gpa fell below 2.0. Currently she is surviving on loans and works 20+ hours per week off campus. Beth hasnt yet considered what she plans to do after graduation, whenever that might be.

The setting is 3/4 of the way through the semester, and pressure is building. All 4 are busy with classes, job hunting, work, and life in general. Their professor, Dr. Spock, has assigned way too much work, as usual. Hal, Sue, and Frank are meeting in the computer lab:

Hal: Wow, that homework assignment due tomorrow really stumped me for a while. I was up until 2:30 this morning finishing it.

Sue: Oh please, Im sure you got through it no problem. I started 4 days ago, but I keep getting stuck on the liquid-liquid extraction. Frank, did you get that part?

Frank: Yeah, right! Thanks for reminding me. Ill look at it tonight.

Sue: Well, it looks like Beth is flaking out again, and isnt going to show. How much longer do you want to wait for her?

Hal: That girl better start thinking about passing this class. Even with our help on the design project, shes looking at a D at most. She got a 23 on our last exam!

Frank: Ya know, Im kind of getting sick of helping her out. Ive put more time into this class than Id prefer, and I feel like were supporting a freeloader. Its not like I dont have anything better to do than to do her share in our project, too.

Sue: I hear you. Im having a pretty tough time, keeping up in all my classes. The work that she did, was all wrong. I had to fix all the mass balances she came up with, and that was a week late!

Hal: The main thing is that weve got to get the project done. Frankly, her grade is her business. My grade is my business. If my work helps her, thats no sweat off my back. Eventually, maybe shell learn something from the project. This project is fun. I dont mind doing the extra work.

Sue: Youre way too generous, Hal. Im with Frank. Ive got plenty of things to do, other than carry her load. I think she doesnt deserve a good grade on the project if she hasnt done any work on it.