What is the difference between a teamand a group?
Teams are groups, but what makes them unique? Their unity? Theirfocus on group goals? The interdependence among members?
TASKS(A-E):
A. Think of various teams you, or a family member of yours, havebeen a member.
Examples of teams could be any of the following:
- workgroup in a business setting
- sports team
- military squad
- medical team are all good examples of the kinds of groups toinvestigate.
B. After you have decided upon a team for this exercise,consider the following five aspects of what makes a group a teamand evaluate your team on EACH of the fiveaspects.
C. After you have assessed your team on these aspects, determinewhether or not your team was a high-functioningteam (performing well in at least four of the fiveaspects) or a low-functioning team(performing well in only one or two aspects).
- Interlocking Interdependence:
- Do group members work closely with each other?
- Are there any problems coordinating the group’sactivities?
- Do people work together or do they primarily work on their ownprojects?
- What happens when a group member doesn’t perform up to thegroup’s standards?
- Coordinated Interaction:
- What do the members of your group do?
- Do group members interact frequently together orseparately?
- Do members of the group coordinate their actions with theactions of other members?
- Compelling Purpose:
- Do members of your group put the group’s goal above their ownindividual goals?
- Do members work hard to reach the group’s goals?
- Does the group have a specific mission or goal?
- If the group fails, do you fail?
- Adaptive Structures:
- How organized is the group?
- Is it clear who is supposed to do what?
- Are there conflicts about who is in charge?
- Cohesiveness questions:
- Would you say that your group is a cohesive, tight-knitone?
- Do people like each other?
- Does the group have much turnover?
- Does the group have a name?
- Are group members proud to say that they are a member of thisgroup?
- Do the group members share a sense of identity with eachother?
D. Write your team assessment in paragraph format(one paragraph per assessment) and post to theforum.
