eCommSports Kit Curriculum Guide

Step 4 Working in Teams Tutorial

Each student participating in the eCommSports project should read this tutorial.

Introduction

In today’s workplace, it is common to work in teams to accomplish corporate goals. A team allows each of its members to bring his or her individual skills and experiences to the group. The team comes together to solve business challenges, generate new ideas and carry out activities that lead to corporate goal fulfillment. When looking at an effective team, one of its most important characteristics is that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. In many cases this is because of the dynamic process of brainstorming that takes place among team members.

In this step of the eCommSports Project, your teacher will divide your class into four teams. By dividing your efforts, your class will be able to tackle different functions of your eCommSports business at the same time. As in any business, your class teams will work together to operate and manage your eCommSports business.

To prepare you for your team assignments, this tutorial provides:

• Guidelines for Effective Teams

• Behaviors That Can Help or Hinder Teams

• Suggested Team Roles and Duties

• Language That Promotes Effective Team Communication

• A Team Effectiveness Checklist

Guidelines for Effective Teams

Participation and Communication

• Equal participation is expected from each team member in both meetings and assignments.

• Responsibilities and resources are shared equally.

• Assignments are completed according to deadlines and team members are prepared for meetings.

• Candid and open discussions are encouraged.

• Team members respect each other and do not interrupt when someone is speaking.

• Team members remain open to new ideas and avoid negative judgment or criticism of ideas.

• Clear agendas are set at the beginning of meetings, tasks are specifically assigned to team members and deadlines are respected.

Group Behavior

• Disagreement is natural, but must be resolved in a constructive way such that all parties concede to the resulting solution.

• When consensus is reached, the team decision is supported.

• It is generally the responsibility of the Team Manager to facilitate meetings and help mediate conflicts.

• If resolution cannot occur, have your teacher help to resolve team conflicts.

• Record what was discussed, decided and assigned during team meetings.

• Team members that will miss a team meeting must submit work that is due prior to the time of the scheduled meeting.

Behaviors That Help or Hinder Teams

Suggested Team Roles and Duties

Team Manager’s Role:

• Prepare agendas

• Lead team meetings. Keep the team focused on the task at hand and make sure that all members are participating

• Contribute to team meetings and work of the team without dominating or over-influencing

• Make sure team members are clear about their assignments and commitments

• Make sure that team efforts are documented and made available as needed

• Make sure tasks are completed on time

• Work to achieve team consensus whenever possible

• Encourage open channels of communication between team members

• Communicate with the Teacher as needed

Scribe’s Role:

• Prepare a meeting summary following each meeting and distribute it to team members

• Keep and manage the team notebook

Timekeeper’s Role:

• Time discussions and remind the team leader when the allocated time for each activity has elapsed

Language That Promotes Effective Team Communication

Language is a powerful tool and results in either effective or ineffective communication. As a member of your team, you will want to draw out the expert knowledge and creative solutions of other team members, without manipulating, or judging their input. For a team to exercise its full potential, members need to pay attention to how they address each other and what words they use to exchange and elicit ideas, or transition between topics.

Review the following material to see how you can effectively use language to guide team communication in a positive and effective way.

If You Want To…
   …Here’s What You Can Say

• Probe for More Information:

  • What are your ideas on that subject?

  • If you could choose, what would you like it to be?

  • Does anyone else have a thought about this?

  • Can you tell us a little more about that?

  • Jim brings up a good point. What do the rest of you think?

  • What is it about this issue that interests you?

  • Let’s dream about what it would be like in a perfect world.

  • That idea has many dimensions. Can you tell us more?

  • That’s a good idea; let’s brainstorm that.

• Transition to Another Topic:

  • Could you state that comment as a goal?

  • I’m glad you asked that question. Team, what do you think?

  • That comment has come up a lot. Should we explore it?

  • Are we in agreement? If so, let’s move to the next issue.

  • Can someone summarize what we’ve accomplished here?

  • That’s a great idea. Can anyone add to it?

  • Tell us why you find that idea so appealing.

• Stifle an Interruption:

  • Let’s come back to that so we can stay focused.

  • How does that relate to our discussion? What is the link?

  • Let’s check the minutes. I think we resolved that one.

• Draw Out a Quiet Person:

  • Off the top of your head, does anyone feel differently?

  • I just want to hear anything that comes to your mind.

  • Keep talking. I want to hear more about this.

• Draw Out an Expert:

  • Sue, you know a lot about that, jump in with your ideas.

  • How should I word this? What’s your recommendation?

• Bring Closure to a Topic:

  • Can anyone summarize what we’ve agreed upon as a team?

  • Are we in agreement? Let’s go around the team and confirm.

  • We’ve got five minutes left. Let’s list the highlights.

A Team Effectiveness Checklist