ISyE Senior Design Teamwork Effectiveness

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ISyE Senior Design Teamwork Effectiveness

• Part I Building an Effective Team

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Who am I?

• Blake E. Cherrington, Ph.D., P.E.
• Dean Emeritus of the School of Engineering
  University of Dayton
• Executive in Residence
• GT Institute for Leadership and Entrepreneurship

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Why am I here?

• The biggest problem you are likely to have in
  senior design (and in your career) is figuring
  out how to work together effectively as a group.
• It is very often frustrating and difficult, but
  the problems are (often) easy to avoid, or solve.
  
• Im here to help.

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Whats in it for you?

• I am available for consultation by individuals or
  teams on team dynamic problems.
• I have nothing to do with the grade you receive.
• What you tell me is between you and me.

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How do you get in touch with me?

• By appointment.
• Blake.Cherrington_at_comcast.net
• blake.cherrington_at_ile.gatech.edu
• We can meet in my office (4166/488 4th Floor
  Management Building beside Trading Floor), or
  Bookstore Starbucks, or over here.
• Im usually on-campus on Wednesdays, but I can
  come in on other days.

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How Many of You Have Had Problems Working in
Teams?

• How many of you get mad at the slacker who
  doesnt pull her/his weight?
• How many of you have been really honked off with
  the obnoxious team member who wants to tell
  everybody what to do?

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• How many of you wish some of the team members
  would listen to your good ideas and use them?
• How many of you wish the blabber mouths with the
  crazy ideas on your team would just shut up and
  get to work?

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What teamwork problems can you expect?

• One or two of your team members will not pull
  their weight.
• Communications between team members will break
  down.
• Communications with your client will be
  difficult.
• Your project schedule will blow up.
• Your leader will quit, or be replaced.

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How can you avoid these problems?

• Build an effective team.
• Develop an effective communications strategy.
• Accept responsibility and report regularly.
• Establish a schedule and monitor your progress.
• Learn to disagree without being disagreeable.

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ISyE Senior Design Teamwork Effectiveness

• Part I Building an Effective Team

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Building an Effective Team

• Look for
• Competence,
• Character,
• Complementary skills ,
• Collaborative ability,
• Commitment.

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What Skills are Desired

• One member with a close relationship with the
  project sponsor.
• Several members with excellent writing and
  presentation skills.
• Members with exceptional proficiency in
  simulation / programming languages.
• Someone willing to take on the considerable work
  of leading and coordinating the team.

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Team Choice Strategies

• Get your friends together.
• GPA Grouping.
• Skills Inventory Approach.
• Football Draft based on oral presentation (best)
  or written.
• Secret Ballot.

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Application for Team(Skills Inventory)

• ISyE courses taken, electives.
• Special skills (computer languages, Web page
  creation, PPT, Word, speaking skills)
• Work and co-op experience, hobbies, sports.
• Previous leadership experiences.
• Live on campus? Have a car?
• Outside time commitments (family, job)
• Statement of Strengths as team member.

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Choosing the Team

• Do a skills inventory for each prospective
  member.
• Interview prospective team members to see if they
  have a complementary skill set and the 5 Cs.
• Look for diversity. Reflect the client.
• Choose a leader (carefully) and respect that
  choice.

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Building Team Chemistry

• Complete the Myers-Briggs personality profile and
  use it for problem solving.
• Share the Skills Inventory with each other.
• Socialize to build friendship and respect.

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The Team be honest with each other

• What does each team member consider a personal
  win?
• A top notch performance thats worth an A
• A pretty decent job that keeps my GPA up
• No worse than a C
• As long as I dont fail
• Get to know what other demands are on everyones
  time.

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Summary of strategies

• Define the skills you will need.
• Do a skills inventory.
• Keep in mind the five Cs.
• Choose the team members.
• Build team chemistry.
• Be honest with each other.

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Theres a lot more

• This is a very brief summary of strategies to
  make a more effective team.
• I would be glad to meet with any individual or
  any teams to go into more depth on any of these
  topics.

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How can I help?

• I am a coach, not an advocate.
• You have to solve your own problems.
• I can help you define the problem in actionable
  terms.
• I can suggest strategies to resolve the issue.

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How do you get in touch with me?

• By appointment.
• Blake.Cherrington_at_comcast.net
• blake.cherrington_at_ile.gatech.edu
• We can meet in my office (4th Floor Management
  Building, or Starbucks), or over here.
• Im usually on-campus on Wednesdays, but I can
  come in on other days.