Business Communication Chapter 9 Collaborating Teams Context This Describes The Nature Groups And

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Chapter 9: Collaborating in Teams

Chapter Context

This chapter describes the nature of groups and teams; the difference between effective and

ineffective teams; face-to-face and virtual teams; team roles, norms, and networks in team

dynamics; ground rules; and how the importance of a clear mission statement, and

Outcome-based Outline

Outcome

Learning Objectives

Critical Thinking

9.2 Describe and evaluate the

different dynamics that come

into play in team situations

9.4 Analyze different approaches

to improving teamwork

Knowledge of Discipline

9.1 Explain the different

elements of effective teamwork

9.3 Describe how to improve

team dynamics

Discussion Question Bank

This discussion question bank provides a listing of discussion questions (1-2 per module),

which are included for in-class use.

Module

Discussion Question(s)

9.1 Elements of Teamwork

1. Discuss why working as a team is more

beneficial than working as a group.

2. What characteristics would you use to build a

team? Examine the need to create a

collaborative climate for your team to work in.

9.2 Understanding Team

Dynamics

1. How do the personality and characteristics of

team members influence team role

development? How does an individual work out

the role to balance the expectations of self and

others?

2. How can being a member of a clique help you

collaborate better to perform a job or get a task

done? And how demotivating is it for others on

the team who are not members of the clique?

Why is the existence of a clique a major

disadvantage to the entire communication

network of the team?

9.3 Improving Team Dynamics

1. How would you manage team dynamics if you

were responsible for managing and organizing an

interuniversity debate event? What strategies

would you apply to manage differences, reduce

tension, and work together more effectively

toward a common goal?

2. Examine how a manager should enhance

cohesiveness within a team in order to achieve

and accomplish the team’s task and goals.

Discuss the differences between cohesive and

incohesive teams.

9.4 Approaches to Enhancing

Teamwork

1. Imagine you are leading a large team across

various geographical locations. How would you

develop the team’s potential to work more

effectively, and what kind of approach would be

suitable?

2. Consider the possibility of using Aubrey Fisher’s

four-phase descriptive model in meetings. How

will you handle the reinforcement when you are

stuck in a particular phase? Will you consider

using another approach to improve the

teamwork? Discuss.

Research Assignments

The following research assignments pertain to the main topics and/or themes of the chapter.

Please respond by writing a paper consisting of 1,000-1,500 words.

Power Bases at the Workplace

Write a report analyzing the various types of power bases that exist within organizations,

Experiential Activity

Group or Team Progress Report

Goals

•

To have groups create a mission statement

•

To have groups write ground rules

•

To have group design a communication network model

Group size

Keep the same class groups of four from interview exercise

Time required

One in-class meeting

Perhaps groups need to meet outside of class to finish

Procedure

2. The groups need to meet to decide what the business-related topic of their

3. The topic should be a current business related and broken down into four separate

topics

5. Have the groups create a Progress Report that includes, the phase they are in, a

mission statement, ground rules, communication network model, the roles each