$1.$ SELECT A WORK TEAM

$1\mathrm{.}1$ Select a real$-$life work team that is not currently functioning at an optimal level. You are going to gather information about this team in order to identify what the team$$s strengths are and what are the obstacles preventing them from functioning as a high performing team.

$1\mathrm{.}2$ You will have to obtain permission from the team leader and team members to gather information about the team members $($in line with the POPIA Act$),$ as well as regarding the team$$s current functioning $-$ by means of interviews, focus groups or a questionnaire.

$2.$ DATA COLLECTION:

$2\mathrm{.}1$ Gather the following information about the team:

$$ Information regarding the background, purpose and composition of the team $($diversity$).$

$$ What do members and the leader perceive as the strengths of the team?

$$ What do they regard as the obstacles preventing the team from functioning as a high performing team?

$$ What is the role of the team$$s diversity $($generational thinking, culture, language, age, etc.$)$ in some of these obstacles. If any?

$2\mathrm{.}2$ Use qualitative data collection techniques $($interviews$,$ focus groups, open$-$ended questionnaires$)($see Research Methodology Module textbook$).$

$$ Start with open ended questions, e$.$g$.$ what is going well in the team? What contributes to the success of team?

$$ What may be obstacles preventing the team to achieve its objectives?

$$ Use probing questions $($formulate powerful questions$)$ to get more specific information regarding

$-$ the phase of development the team is in and why

$-$ specific areas where obstacles may originate from $($e$.$g$.$ external, individual or internal obstacles$)$

$-$ the five levels of dysfunctions of a team

$-$ The synergy chain $($characteristics of a High Performance Team$)($e$.$g$.$ regular review$)$

$$ Ask for suggestions $-$ what the team leaders and members believe can be done to improve the team$$s functioning

$3.$ CATEGORIZE AND ANALYZE THE DATA

$3\mathrm{.}1$ Categorize and analyze the raw data by making use the of the team diagnostic frameworks $($i$.$e$.$ team development phases; external, internal, individual obstacles; hard and soft issues; five dysfunctions of a team$).$

$3\mathrm{.}2$ Summarize the strengths and prioritize the most important obstacles to the effective functioning of this team

$4.$ DEVELOPMENT PLAN

$4\mathrm{.}1$ Use the literature and previous research on team learning, as well as other appropriate leadership tools to make recommendations on the basis of the results obtained during the team diagnosis.

$4\mathrm{.}2$ Set objectives for each obstacle that you have prioritized in terms of what you would like the team to achieve in overcoming the obstacle

$4\mathrm{.}3$ Design an actionplan $($consisting of several interventions$),$ based on these objectives develop this team into a high$-$performance team. Provide a time line for each intervention.