My Dream Team: Discussion of the Group
In the case study, My Dream Team, several issues contrast team formation with actors playing out roles in a dram that allows for analysis of the different challenges presented in the case study. An examination of the group shows that the application of the five-stage group-development model affected the quality of the groups work. Further, the group lacked several important characteristics, such as low-conflict level and no leadership or structure, of effective teams.
Challenges
The teacher assigned the group to get to know each other and create a contract that would define the expectations of the group and how it wanted to work together. With a deadline of two weeks to complete the assignment, the group decided to meet quickly but no one brought a copy of the assignment. The group decided to go ahead and complete the assignment without anyone really knowing what the group needed to accomplish. The group completed the assignment quickly and efficiently, but not with a cooperative attempt. Instead of debating issues when one of the members brought something up, the group took a vote and went with the majority to get the assignment done quickly.
Recommendations
The group never became a team because it did not follow the five-stage group-development model and never passed the forming stage. During the first meeting, the forming stage, the members should have discussed the group member’s fears, strengths and weaknesses, and determined the group’s performance goals. The group passed directly over this first crucial step of forming and as a result did not develop any leadership or structure that the group could follow.
The members of the group were afraid that if they disagreed with the others conflict would disrupt the harmony of the group. Conflict can improve the effectiveness of a group as long as it is not interpersonal conflict because task conflicts reduce the likelihood of groupthink. The group did not have any...