Module 1
assignment
What are the reasons for poor team performance and how does
each tie into team-building activities? Give an example from a current event
where poor team performance was evident.
How do high-performing teams manage context and competencies
of the team effectively? Break down and explain each.
How can high-performing teams implement change management
skills?
Name a time in any one of your jobs when The Four C’s would
have helped to ease conflict. Be specific on how they would have helped.
Module 2
assignment
Explain the five reasons why context doesn’t always work.
Give an example of a current event where context caused a problem.
What are the three most powerful factors in shaping the
context for team development? Explain how have they played an important role in
your work environment.
Explain the nine characteristics of an effective team
leader. Then identify a team leader (CEO, president, owner, etc.) from a major
news story during the last year and explain how he/she fits/doesn’t fit into
these characteristics.
What is the Team-Building Cycle? Explain how you have used
this cycle in your everyday life. Explain a time in your past when you now
believe it would have been useful, or why you don’t think it would have helped.
Module 3
assignment
Identify a common problem you face at work. Then apply the
steps of the problem-solving process to the problem and describe what you now
believe the resolution should be.
Explain the options for action planning. Explain a situation
where each of the five options was important.
Explain the appreciative inquiry approach to team building
and describe a situation where you believe such an approach might be useful,
and explain why.
What are types of feedback? Explain a time when you were
required to provide feedback. Explain the situation, what kind of feedback was
provided and how you provided it; whether or not it was well received; and what
you might do differently next time, if anything, and why.
Module 4
assignment
What is the theory of conflicting personalities? Explain a time
in your life when this theory was evident and how you resolved the problem at
hand.
Explain what you consider to be the five most important of
the nine elements in determining expectations in the role clarification
exercise. Give examples of personal experiences on the job for each.
What are the five design options for an interteam-building
program? Break each of them down, explaining how they can resolve a
hypothetical work conflict.
Why is it important to follow up in order to maintain team
effectiveness? Explain a personal experience where follow up worked or failed,
and why.
Module 5
assignment
What are the two core categories that executives divide
their core tasks into? How does this explain how they are as a team leader?
What is “psychological safety”? Give a personal example of
how this has helped you develop or you believe would have helped you had it
been there for you, and why.
What is the Balancing Act? Describe each characteristic of
the “Discovery Driven” and the “Execution Driven” and how they relate to an
event in your life.
What are the five traps that diverse teams face on their way
to innovation success? If you were a team leader, how would you try to avoid
them, and why?
Module 6
assignment
Explain an ad hoc committee, task force and project team.
Identify a situation from current events that you believe would warrant the use
of these kinds of teams. Explain the situation and why such a team would be a
good choice or not.
Explain the major tasks facing temporary teams. How do they
play a key role into building relationships and establishing a supportive
emotional climate?
Explain the four steps to designing a temporary team. If you
were a team leader, how would you effectively implement these steps? Using a
hypothetical situation from a current news story, explain each step and its
importance.
Step four of designing a temporary team is broken down into
seven subsets involving questions. Explain each of the subset questions and how
each of them plays a key role in implementing guidelines for a temporary team.
Module 7
assignment
Why are stereotypical expectations formed in cross-cultural
groups? Explain a time (i.e., college course, job, volunteer opportunity) when
you had to work with a cross-cultural group and the stereotypical expectations
that were, or could have been, formed and why.
Why do cross-cultural teams have difficulty? Give an example
when you had interpreted cultural perspective differently from another member
of your team.
How do virtual teams differ from traditional teams? Choose a
profession and explain how it can engage employees in both types of teams, and
why both would be valuable.
What are the several approaches to improving a virtual
team’s performance?
Module 8
assignment
List what you feel are the three most important of the 10
steps leaders follow in order for their teams to function effectively. Explain
a personal experience where you had to implement one or more of the steps.
Summarize the 10 steps organization leaders should follow in
order for their teams to function effectively. Identify one or two that you
believe are most critical from your experience, and provide a concrete example
to support your beliefs.
How can teams without clear boundaries work effectively to
be successful? If you were part of a team without clear boundaries, how did you
deal with the situation and were you were successful or not successful? If you
have not been part of such a team, identify some situation from current events
where such a team would be appropriate, and explain why such a team would be
appropriate and what actions need to be taken to ensure success.
Explain how teams of the future will work. If you are to
head a future team, what will you do to make sure the team succeeds and why?
