teamwork week 13

• Give an example of a time when you have worked in a team and you were successful. Identify why you feel this team worked so successfully using relevant theory bases.

During my college career, I have worked in teams for lots of different activities and it has provided me many different experiences.
Our project was to produced a business plan and the web site for our business.
When we came together all of us were from different classes just for this project.
Out of all the team work team that I was involved in this one was the most successful. This was because we were well organised and everyone had pull their weight also I was the team leader in that occasion.
One of the main reasons why I felt it was successful is because we could trust each other and one of our team members has actually used the business plan to set up the business that we produced.
According to Belbin (1993) to make a successful team necessary have different role players and Belbin has identify nine different roles such as shaper which like to be challenge and likes to motivate the team.
Implementers are the people who turn ideas into actions and usually they are well organised.
Complete finisher which is people who goes through the whole entire project and make sure everything tasks is completed.
Coordinators are usually the leader in the team and skilled at listening to team members so he or she can recognise their team members’ skills.
Team worker are those who support and making sure the team is completing the tasks and they usually get along with all the team members.
Resource Investigator is those who like to find out investigate the available options.
Plant is usually the creative team member and they likes to come up with new ideas.
Monitor Evaluator is the skilled at evaluating ideas and carefully points out the pros and cons of the ideas.
Specialist which is people has the knowledge to get the task done and they are expert in their field.
Another reason why I felt it was successful is because everyone different roles and there were three team members. Everyone had different skills, for example, one of the team members was very creative and according to Belbin (1993) he is classified as a plant. Everyone was a team worker because we supported each other throughout our tasks.
One of our team members was a resource investigator because she collected all the information that we needed in order to produce the business plan. I was the completer because I made sure everyone completed their part of the tasks


• Using Tuckman’s theory on group development, review the group you worked with for your first assignment for People and Orgs. Did your group progress through all of the key stages? Relate this to the success, or otherwise, of the group.

In 1965 Tuckman introduced four "Tuckman's Stages" for a group which are Forming, Storming, Norrming and Performing.
Forming – is when groups come together to get to know each other and this is the beginning stage. Usually the group members are polite, protective and this is the bonding satge.
Storming – this is where team members start to have issues with one another and it can be anything, for example, have different ideas and views. If this issues is handled unsuccessfully it can make team members leave the group.
In Tuckman (1965) this is one of the most important stages for a group to go through in order to reach norming.
Norming – at this stage the group starts to develop trust in each other and agrees with the tasks.
Performing – this is where the group works toward their aims and they are comfortable with the people they are working with.

In 1977 Tuckman have introduced the new fifth stage which is Adjourning, which is where the group and the tasks come to an end. Team members may feel anxiety or sadness about the separation.

In our first assignment for People and Organisation we formed a team.
Our team performance and overall issues was well managed because in the first stage we all knew each other for reasonable amount of time.
In the storming stage, we did come across some different ideas and views but the problem was quickly resolved. Also everyone contributed the best they can.
In the norming stage we all knew what our tasks were and when the deadline is. In one of the planning stages we organised tasks sheet which indicated what we needed to do and when.
In the performing stage we achieved the aim which is to pass the assignment.
On the adjourning stage were not quite there because we were still working in the same team but this time for another assignment.


• Using the link below to “The Times Top 100 companies to work for”, review 2 companies where teamwork has been identified as a major contributory factor to their success.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/best_100_companies/
The two companies that I have chosen are Beaverbrooks the Jewellers and Edward Jones which provide financial services. According to the Sunday Times (2009) Beaver Brooks was given first top place for companies to work for and closely followed by Edward Jones.
When I visited Beaver Brooks and asked a member of staff “what is like working for Beaver Brooks” and the staff answered we have regular team work activities and it is consider the base structure of the company because the activities can strengthen up our relationships with other members.
Also the environment is always friendly and all the member of staff has sense belonging like a family.
According to Edward Jones web site mentioned they want build long term relationships not only with the clients but also their staff too. Also according to their web “a true partnership is our home who shares combination of passion for serving our clients and moving careers forward”.


Bibliography and References

Chimaera consulting limited (2001) Famous models stages of group development [online] Available at: http://www.chimaeraconsulting.com/tuckman.htm [Accessed 3 January 2010]

Edward Jones (2010) Welcome to your Edward Jones [online] Available at: http://careers.edwardjones.com/us/index.html [Accessed 3 January 2010]

Mind tools limited (1995) Belbin team roles [online] Available at: http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newLDR_83.htm [Accessed 3 January 2010]

The team building company (2010) Forming, storming, norming, performing [online] Available at: http://www.teambuilding.co.uk/Forming_Storming_Norming_Performing.html [Accessed 3 January 2010]