Successful Collaboration and
Team Dynamics
COM/516
Michael Brummett, Andrew Cyr,
Marvin Hoffmann, Mallory Quigg, Benjamin Shuffain, Marie Woods
April 13, 2015
Donna Monahan
The value of team collaboration for
academic success
• Collaboration is necessary skill set in virtual classroom to be effective
• Develop clear goals and objectives
• Facilitate better communication among team members
• Planning and brainstorming varied ideas
Marie Woods
Strategies in using conflict resolution as opportunities for learning
• Managing conflict resolution is critical to virtual team’s success
• Definition and characteristics are identified
• Sources of conflicts are identified
• Virtual negotiation and mediation systems are introduced
• Methods of conflict training are suggested
Marie Woods
V I S U A L
A U D I T O R Y
K I N E S T H E T I C• ‘hands-on’ experimentation• need to move around• communicate through touch
• hearing / listening• spoken instructions• often read out loud to hear the words
• reading / pictures• often close eyes to visualize/
remember• easily distracted by sounds
Michael Brummett
Kolb’s Model
“Learning requires the resolution of conflicts between dialectically opposed modes of adaptation to the world. Conflict, differences, and disagreement are what drive the learning process.” (Kolb & Kolb, 2005)
Michael Brummett
Concrete Experience
Abstract Conceptualization
Active Experimentation
Reflective Observation
Accommodating
Diverging Assimilating
Converging
• Pragmatists (Contributors) – practical application, good with details
• Reflectors (Communicators) – introverted, reviewers, planners, good at thinking through problems
• Activists (Challengers)- activities and challenges, motivator, tends to jump in and do before thinking things through
• Theorists (Collaborators)- “big picture people,” understanding why, linking events, ideas, situations.
Honey and Mumford Model(with UOP Learning Team Toolkit designations)
Michael Brummett
Crucial Communication Skills
Communicate with teams to fully understand each others ideas
Ben Shuffain
Crucial Communication Skills
• Listen
• Clarity
• Friendly
• Confidence
• Open Minded
• Respect
Ben Shuffain
Learning Team Charter
• Completed at the beginning of the online course process to:– describe our team’s mission or task.– to set our goals– secure each members commitment in achieving our goals– to plan– to allocate its resources
• A Charter increases the likelihood that a team will reach it’s objectives in an effective and an efficient manner
• Helps identify potential conflicts and decide how to resolve conflicts should they arise.
• Filling out the Learning Team Charter will prove to be beneficial for each team and project you work on– New teams means new missions, goals, commitments, plans, and resources– Same team but different instructor and/or project will requires thought of missions, goals,
commitments, plans, and resources.
• members should use the Learning Team Charter form to guide them through the process.
Mallory Quigg
Learning Team Charter
COURSE AND CONTACT INFORMATION
• contact information.• Signature of
collaboration and agreement of contents.
• creates a sense of shared commitment
TEAM MEMBER SKILL INVENTORY
• What do you bring to the group?
• What skill would you like to learn form the group?
LEARNING TEAM GOALS
• lists the goals for the project.
• Create specific and measurable goals.
• Identify barriers to meeting goal.
GROUND RULES
• Identifying ground rules to be agreed on by all team members.
• Member’s personal needs stated.
CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
• Identifying issues that may arise and cause conflict.
• Agreeing how to resolve potential conflict.
Mallory Quigg
Effective Components Necessary for Team Success
• Active Team Participation
• Open Communication
• Leadership
• Clearly Defined Goals
Andrew Cyr
Strategies of Productivity Prepare to commit oneself
Stay positiveMaintain good health Reserve time for studies Be adaptable and open-minded
Establish lines of communication Stay in contact Express concerns early Provide feedback
Understand the assignment Suggest alternative perspectives Share strategies or information Regularly review the requirements
Set milestones Create realistic goals Update on progress often
Marvin Hoffmann
ReferencesSlides 1 & 2:
Dittman, D. Hawkes, M., Deokar, A., Sarnikar, S.. IMPROVING VIRTUAL TEAM COLLABORATION OUTCOMES THROUGH
COLLABORATION PROCESS STRUCTURING. Quarterly Review of Distance Education11.4 (Winter 2010): 195-210,289-290. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/docview/873033438?pqorigsite=summon&http://search.proquest.com?accountid=35812
Yuhyung, S. (2005). Conflict Resolution in Virtual Teams. Retrieved from
http://www.sciencedirect.com.contentproxy.phoenix.edu/science/article/pii/S0090261605000392
Slides 4-6
ANTA. (1998). Workbased Learning: A Ready Reference. Melbourne: Australian National Training Authority
Education Planner.org. (n.d.). What's Your Learning Style? The Learning Styles. Retrieved April 12, 2015, from Education Planner.org:
www.educationplanner.org/students/self-assessments/learning-styles-styles.shtml
Kolb, A. Y., & Kolb, D. A. (2005), Learning Styles and Learning Spaces: Enhancing Experiential Learning in Higher
Education. Academy of Management Learning & Education, Vol. 4, No. 2, 193-212.
Slide 8-
Doyal, A. (2015). Top 10 Communication Skills. Careers.
Slides 9 & 10-
University of Phoenix. (2002). Guide to completing the university of phoenix learning team charter . Retrieved from University of Phoenix, COM516-
Professional Communications website.