Fall 2015 ECEn 490 1

Team work and Team Building

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 2

Lecture 1 review

Did you find the class website?Have you met with your team?Have you met with your adviser?Have you downloaded the “Design Team Process Worksheet”?

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 3

EE 490 Team Exercise

The AssignmentYour team has been given the assignment to build a tower. The tower will be constructed out of paper and each team can only use 10 sheets in the final structure. You also have a roll of tape to assist in the construction. The Winning team will receive an award for their outstanding effort.

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 4

EE 490 Team ExerciseThe MaterialsYour construction kit consists of 20 sheets of paper, a roll of tape and scissors.The PreparationYou will have 10 minutes to develop your plan for constructing your tower. At the end of the 10 minutes, you will all put away any practice materials, and prepare for the actual construction.

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 5

The BuildYou will have 2 1/2 minutes to build your actual tower. You must start with 10 new sheets of paper, no materials from the planning stage can be used. You can cut strips of tape for the construction process.

The Goal: Build the tallest tower!!The tallest free-standing tower will be the winner. (can’t be attached to the floor)Good luck.Prof Clifford

EE 490 Team Exercise

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 6

• What leadership roles did you notice in your

team?

• How were the roles decided?

• What other roles did team members assume?

• How were decisions made in your team?

• What did your team do well?

• What should your team do differently?

• What activities would ensure the best results

for the team?

Discussion on Team Dynamics

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 7

The Productivity of TeamsP

rodu

ctiv

ity

1+1= 1 2 3+

Inefficient Teams

• Poor cooperation• Waiting for team to

decide.• Little or nor work

outside team meetings.• Assignments poorly

coordinated.• Hidden agendas• Bickering among team

members.• Duplicated efforts• Lack of front end

planning

Independent teams

• Good cooperation among team members.

• Tasks are well defined• Team members work

independently• Little or no sharing of

roles and responsibilities.

• Team members motivated by individual success.

Super Teams

• High degree of collaboration on assignments

• Ideas build on each other.

• Team members challenge each other.

• Team is motivated to win as a team.

• High degree of honest, open communications.

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 8

The top five Keys to effective teams1. Learn the importance of discussion and

agreement on team decisions.2. Understand team roles and relationships.3. Learn to prepare for team activities, then

reflect on the results and assess team performance

4. Learn the importance of documenting decisions and results.

5. Learn the importance of communications among team members.

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 9

Some suggestions for your Project teams– Decide what roles will be required to

complete your project.– Identify who will take the lead in each role

identified above.– Develop a written description of the role.– Decide on a regular time for having team

meetings.– Keep written notes of team activities.– Each team member should keep a lab

record to capture ideas and results.

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 10

Each team will have a designated team leader.The team leader will be responsible for most of the communication with Brother Clifford. They must have active email, and be willing to distribute messages to all team members. The leader will also be responsible to see that all assignments are completed and submitted on time.The team leader is responsible to see that the team meetings are held, action items are completed, and that team meeting notes are recorded.The team leader is responsible to see that design reviews are held with the class instructors.

Role of the Team Leader

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 11

How will you choose a team leader?The role of the team leader is no more important than any other role on the team. It is just a different role.

Choose a team leader who has the interest and desire in developing some of his/her leadership skills.

Don’t make the choice of the team leader a popularity contest. Chose someone who you can support.

Make sure the leader has the time and interest to take on this role.

Others on the team should take leadership roles in various assignments during the semester.

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 12

Importance of Team Meetings

Coordinate effortsIdentify problemsMake team decisionsKeep the team on trackMotivate and encourage team members.Provide accountability for assignments.

But don’t wait for the meeting if you have an important issue

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 13

Team Meeting Suggestions

Have regular agenda items– Review current Schedule– Open discussion of issues and problems– Review completed assignmentsGet a status report from each team memberAsk each team member to submit agenda items in advance

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 14

Potential Team Meeting Problems

Meetings don’t cover all important topics– Provide an agenda with critical issues identified.

Meetings take too long– Establish time limits on the agenda.

Meeting too infrequently– Have a regularly scheduled time.

Decisions don’t stick. Have to make the same decision multiple times.– Prepare a written statement of all major decisions.

Problem team member(s)– One-on-one discussion with individual(s) with ideas for

improvement.

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 15

Team Member Expectations

Not all team members have the same expectationsIndividual expectations shape behavior Teams will function better if expectations are discussed openly

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 16

Email Homework Assignments

There will usually be a short assignment given at the end of most lectures pertaining to the material covered in the class and in the text.In general these questions are designed to simulate some group discussion in your team meetings. The assignment is to be discussed as a team and a single team email response is expected. All email assignments are due by 9 a.m. of the next class period.

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 17

Homework– Read Chapter 2, Development

Processes and Organizations, or the notes for Lecture 3 on the website.

– Decide on a team management site. (It doesn’t need to be in a final form)

– Complete the “Design Team Process Worksheet”. Email a copy to me at dmcranch@byu.edu.

– List three things your team learned from the “build the tower” experience. Email me with your responses.

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 18

Extra material

The following slides illustrate some of the more common leadership styles. Look for these in your team.

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 19

Team Decision Making and Leadership Processes

KingKing for a dayDemocracyConsensusAnarchy

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 20

King

Team leader makes most decisions (with or without discussion)Advantages– Rapid decisions– Usually coordinated decisions

Disadvantages– Decisions constrained by king’s

knowledge– Less than full support of some team

members

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 21

King for a Day

Same as King, except different team members decides based on topic, time, etcAdvantages– Rapid decisions– Decision made by more knowledgeable

person

Disadvantages– Decisions constrained by king’s knowledge– Less than full support of some team

members– Some decisions may not get made

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 22

Democracy

Discussion, majority vote rulesAdvantages– Collects knowledge from entire team– Entire team will be engaged

Disadvantages– May split team into factions– May create “underground” opposition – Decisions may influenced by non relevant

factors

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 23

Consensus

Discussion of alternatives, pros and consImproving of proposalsElimination of objections and buy inAdvantages– Excellent at gathering all team

knowledge– Full team support of decision

Disadvantages– Takes a long time– Sometimes it never converges

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 24

Anarchy

Please avoid this at all costs!!

Team member make decisions

independent of team

No coordination or communication

Leads to– Duplication of effort– Omitted tasks– Harsh Feelings

Fall 2015 ECEn 490 25

Team Communication Frequency

Separation Distance (meters)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Probability of Communicating

at Least Once per Week (%)