Group Working Positivity
Group Work
Participating in Group Work
Participating in group work is an important skill to develop as it is something you will do in your student life and in your working career. Job advertisements often highlight ‘good team worker’ as a crucial skill for potential recruits. These may involve a group presentation or a group report followed by a reflective piece of writing and/or an individual assignment. Take notes or record your lecturer’s assignment briefing. Module Handbooks usually includes the assessment criteria (see Appendix 1) so it is important that you work well together to achieve success. It will be quite obvious to your lecturer whether you have worked well as a team and whether you prepared your assignment as a group. Groups formed by students to discuss case studies or discuss an assignment can help improve your grades and make the task more manageable. Keep a journal and record your progress, hindrances, issues and successes, plus any pitfalls to avoid next time!
Working in a TEAM? Together Everyone Achieves More
Successful group work will involve:
• Clear, shared goals. • Good communication amongst members of the group. • Agreed ways of working towards the group goals. • Support and cooperation, rather than competitiveness. • Listening to one another. • Autonomous team working. • Arrangements for monitoring progress and taking corrective action, if necessary. • Keep to deadlines – it is unfair to let others down who are depending on you, in order for the whole group to succeed. • High levels of motivation. • Plan – do – review.
Why work in groups?
Team building is vital to any organisation and by working in groups you can: • Share resources. • Share ideas and information. • Share abilities. • Learn from and help each other. • Stimulate creativity and innovation. • Increase motivation. • Solve complex problems. • Can help you get
Participating in Group Work
Participating in group work is an important skill to develop as it is something you will do in your student life and in your working career. Job advertisements often highlight ‘good team worker’ as a crucial skill for potential recruits. These may involve a group presentation or a group report followed by a reflective piece of writing and/or an individual assignment. Take notes or record your lecturer’s assignment briefing. Module Handbooks usually includes the assessment criteria (see Appendix 1) so it is important that you work well together to achieve success. It will be quite obvious to your lecturer whether you have worked well as a team and whether you prepared your assignment as a group. Groups formed by students to discuss case studies or discuss an assignment can help improve your grades and make the task more manageable. Keep a journal and record your progress, hindrances, issues and successes, plus any pitfalls to avoid next time!
Working in a TEAM? Together Everyone Achieves More
Successful group work will involve:
• Clear, shared goals. • Good communication amongst members of the group. • Agreed ways of working towards the group goals. • Support and cooperation, rather than competitiveness. • Listening to one another. • Autonomous team working. • Arrangements for monitoring progress and taking corrective action, if necessary. • Keep to deadlines – it is unfair to let others down who are depending on you, in order for the whole group to succeed. • High levels of motivation. • Plan – do – review.
Why work in groups?
Team building is vital to any organisation and by working in groups you can: • Share resources. • Share ideas and information. • Share abilities. • Learn from and help each other. • Stimulate creativity and innovation. • Increase motivation. • Solve complex problems. • Can help you get
References: Barker, L., Wahlers, K., Watson, K. & Kibler, R. (1991) Groups in Process. 4th edn. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Belbin, R.M. (1993) Team Roles at Work. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Belbin, R.M. (1981) Management Teams: why they succeed or fail. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann. Benne, K.D. & Sheats, P. (1948) ‘Functional Roles of group Members.’ Journal of Social Issues. 4. pp.41-49. Blundel, R. (2004) Effective Organisational Communication. 2nd edn. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited. Buzan, T (2000) Use Your Head. London: BBC Active Cameron, S De Bono, E (1985) Six Thinking Hats. Harmondsworth: Viking Elluminate (2010) Window Descriptions Hofstede, G. (1991) Cultures and Organisations: Software of the Mind. London: McGrawHill. Levin, P. (2005) Successful Teamwork! London: Open University Press. Morrison, T., Conaway, W.A., Borden, G.A. (1994) Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands: How to do Business in Sixty Countries. Adams Media. Race, P. (2000) 500 Tips on Group Learning. London: Kogan Page. Stuart, R., (1998) Team Developmental Games for Trainers. Gower Publishing Limited. In Levin, P. (2005) Successful Teamwork! London: Open University Press. Adapted from: Race (2000:37-39) Appendix 3 – Ground Rules