Tuesday, October 1, 2013

WEEK 4 - NOTES & REFLECTIONS

“Team Formation” William A. Kahn

A design team works to achieve a common goal – you have to feel comfortable with each other during the process of a project, create values and beliefs, and while working together - making just and impartial decisions. Working together means gathering information that offers effective arguments to help guide them in creating effective reports and presentations.  As a team, you come up with one idea that is compiled into everyone’s efforts enabling a better understanding of the scope of the project. During the process, you will need Brainstormes that can come up with “...ideas quickly and lead everyone else to thinking as creatively as possible that will lead them to similar research and products.”  And so, it is a tremendous help to create a mission statement beforehand that delineates the goals of the team in order to remind them of its initial intent so that they can make “…important conversations and guide difficult choices.” Consequently, in order for the team to function effectively, the team needs to have a vision on how they will carry out the mission that they all have agreed upon – a working group that holds  “…to a collective purpose, and to one another.”

A team that works well consists of important key members – the facilitator, the project manager. The first one is the facilitator who “...helps monitor the flow of conversation, ensuring that team members participate appropriately and move through agenda items.” The second one is the project manager who “….coordinates and schedules the project-related activities of team members, ensuring the work is integrated.” In all ends, communication is the integral part of a working team – “…gathering to develop shared understandings of what you need to do.” Most importantly, understand why you are meeting – have a clear purpose in order produce valuable work together.

What unique team challenges do design teams face?

  • ·       Morality/Team work effectiveness – depends on how well you know each other and your willingness to be open minded about everyone’s ideas.
  • ·         Individual work/Integration of work – know the mission and have a clear understanding about your role on the team.

  • ·         Skill levels – Know what you are good at and be willing to learn lots.

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