TeamworkTeamwork

references:references:

Engineering by DesignEngineering by Design by Gerard Voland by Gerard Voland

Creative Problem Solving, Thinking Skills for a Changing Creative Problem Solving, Thinking Skills for a Changing WorldWorld by Edward Lumsdaine and Monika Lumsdaine by Edward Lumsdaine and Monika Lumsdaine

The Power of TeamworkThe Power of Teamwork

Why Work in Teams?Why Work in Teams?

Brain dominance controls our thinking preferencesBrain dominance controls our thinking preferences Herrmann’s Four-Quadrant Brain Model of thinking preferenceHerrmann’s Four-Quadrant Brain Model of thinking preference

logicalfactualcriticaltechnicalanalyticalquantitative

conservativestructuredsequentialorganizeddetailedplanned

visualholisticintuitiveinnovativeconceptualimaginative

interpersonalkinestheticemotionalspiritualsensoryfeeling

A

B

D

C

right cerebral hemisphere

right limbic system

left cerebral hemisphere

left limbic system

Teams combine the different backgrounds, Teams combine the different backgrounds, experiences and thinking preferences of individualsexperiences and thinking preferences of individuals

Interaction among team members – other’s ideas are Interaction among team members – other’s ideas are used as stepping-stones to more creative ideasused as stepping-stones to more creative ideas

Willingness on the part of a team to take greater risksWillingness on the part of a team to take greater risks

Teams Have Advantages When Teams Have Advantages When Creativity Is SoughtCreativity Is Sought

Effective Team PracticesEffective Team Practices

Common goalsCommon goals Equitable workloadsEquitable workloads Mutual accountabilityMutual accountability Collegial EnvironmentCollegial Environment

Common GoalsCommon Goals

All members of a design team first must agree upon a All members of a design team first must agree upon a single problem formulation and a set of initial single problem formulation and a set of initial expectations so that everyone will be moving in the expectations so that everyone will be moving in the same general direction as the work progressessame general direction as the work progresses

Equitable WorkloadsEquitable Workloads

Overall workload for developing a final design should Overall workload for developing a final design should be shared equitably among all members of the teambe shared equitably among all members of the team

Work should be divided into general and then more Work should be divided into general and then more specific tasksspecific tasks

Some tasks will require a coordinated effort by the Some tasks will require a coordinated effort by the entire team or a number of members, while the more entire team or a number of members, while the more specific or focused tasks can be completed by specific or focused tasks can be completed by individual membersindividual members

Recognize that the work will be dynamic in nature, Recognize that the work will be dynamic in nature, ever-changing, and likely necessitating changes to the ever-changing, and likely necessitating changes to the assignments over timeassignments over time

The design proposal and/or a Gantt chart can be used The design proposal and/or a Gantt chart can be used to assign tasks to team members and monitor progressto assign tasks to team members and monitor progress

Mutual AccountabilityMutual Accountability

All members of the team must share responsibility for All members of the team must share responsibility for the completion of all tasks and the development of the the completion of all tasks and the development of the final designfinal design

Leadership and decision-making responsibilities should Leadership and decision-making responsibilities should be shared among all members in order to increase each be shared among all members in order to increase each person’s motivation and commitment to the project and person’s motivation and commitment to the project and to enhance the quality of the final designto enhance the quality of the final design

The team should establish expectations for individual The team should establish expectations for individual and group performanceand group performance

Use peer appraisal (see example form ) to provide Use peer appraisal (see example form ) to provide each individual and the team with feedback on each individual and the team with feedback on performance such that corrective actions can be taken performance such that corrective actions can be taken in a timely mannerin a timely manner

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Collegial EnvironmentCollegial Environment

Teamwork is built upon the mutual trust and respect Teamwork is built upon the mutual trust and respect among all membersamong all members

The working environment must be one in which The working environment must be one in which everyone feels comfortable about sharing an idea or everyone feels comfortable about sharing an idea or opinionopinion

Each member must also realize that their idea may be Each member must also realize that their idea may be justly criticized (and possibly rejected) by the teamjustly criticized (and possibly rejected) by the team

All criticisms must be constructive in nature and All criticisms must be constructive in nature and respectful of the person whose work is being criticizedrespectful of the person whose work is being criticized

Being Effective as a Team MemberBeing Effective as a Team Member

Being Effective as a Team LeaderBeing Effective as a Team Leader