Write a minimum of two pages in which you recall team experiences you have had in which a team was effective and another in which it was not. Write a description of these teams and their tasks, paying particular attention to the behavioral expectations for which the team members held each other accountable.
Introduction
The ground rules for a team are the spoken and unspoken functional rules and expectations that help or hinder the team in reaching a goal. Systems thinking can inform an analysis of team ground rules in that it addresses the interrelationships between people and departments, and the way things are done in an organization. Understanding the larger contexts in an organization can help you communicate with those affected by a problem or issue.
Think of a team experience you have had in which the team was effective. Write a description of this team and its tasks, paying particular attention to the behavioral expectations for which the team members held each other accountable (these might have been spoken or unspoken). List the ground rules and describe how the rules helped the team perform and work well together.
Think of an team experience you have had in which the team was not effective. Write a description of this team and its tasks, including the spoken or unspoken ground rules that describe the expectations for behavior on this team.
Examine the possibility that some members held ground rules that others did not. How might this have been a source of tension?
Analyze how this difference in what is expected of team members caused conflict and damaged performance.
What effect could a dialogue about ground rules as a method of team learning have had for this group?
Your assessment should be a minimum of 2 pages in length, double-spaced.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:
Competency 1: Apply change management interventions.
Describe how ground rules help an effective team perform and work well together.
Analyze prospective differences in ground rules for team members and tensions that may result.
Analyze how differences in unspoken ground rules and team members’ expectations cause conflict and damage performance.
Describe the effect of discussing ground rules as a method of team learning.
Competency 2: Analyze applications of change management principles.
Describe an effective team from a real-world experience, including the tasks of the team.
Describe the ground rules applied in an effective team.
Describe an ineffective team from a real-world experience, including the tasks of the team.
Explain the spoken or unspoken ground rules that describe expectations for behavior in an ineffective team.
