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Team B
GEN 300
Mr. Davis
Abstract
Successful teams are the product of concentrated efforts, diverse selection, and
applied leadership. Teams and team members who are able to provide focus, creativity, and
demonstrate critical thinking, ethical reasoning, as well as conflict management skills are
In the following review of teamwork, we demonstrate how great wars have been
fought and won – with the blessings and lives of successful teams. We share with you the
diversity of nature’s teamwork that creates balance and unity necessary for all living-kind.
Creating the foundation of successful teams and their leadership requires informed
and involved management as well as diverse and educated team members. Facilitating the
Management’s role remains with empowering the teams which enables the company
to enjoy the success of team effort while allowing individual team members to experience the
success of their united efforts. This demonstration of team effort provides the foundation for
unity and continued synergy required for the success of future team-based projects.
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Gateway Arch
Louis, Missouri and the “Gateway Arch”. The Arch and surrounding park built on the banks
of the Mississippi River commemorate westward growth of the United States between 1803
and 1890. The architect Eero Saarinen designed the famous “Gateway Arch” which cost
thirty million dollars to construct and took over thirty years to complete. The arch is the
tallest memorial in the United States rising 630 feet from a sixty-foot foundation and
spanning 630 feet at ground level. Its catenary’s curve sways one-half to one inch in 20 mph
winds. Total weight is approximately 43,000 tons and it is constructed of concrete and 5,199
tons of stainless steel. It was named one of the seven greatest wonders of the world by
What is truly amazing is that the team effort began with each construction team
building a separate base and continuing until all the teams and construction met at the top.
There are great accounts of team efforts recorded throughout U.S. history. The two
great illustrations discussed are not meant to lessen the team efforts expended by any person
who has served our country. The first example offered is General George S. Patton and the
United States third Army. During the winter of 1944 the Germans launched what we know
as the “Battle of the Bulge”. During this time Patton’s warriors made a spectacular battle
march to relieve the “101st Airborne’s, Screaming Eagles.” They had been surrounded and
Successful Teams 4
were being besieged at the town of Bastogne. In the following months Patton’s army drove
relentlessly into Germany, crossing the Rhine and entering Austria. By the end of World War
II, Patton’s Third army had gone farther, faster, conquered more territory, and killed,
wounded and captured more enemy soldiers than any other army in the recorded history of
war. Patton summed it up best in his now famous speech made the summer of 1944, “An
army is a team. It lives, sleeps, eats, and fights as a team. This individual heroic stuff is pure
It is true that over 400,000 service men and women gave their lives from 1941
through 1945. But we would be remiss not to mention the war-time efforts of those back
home. These men and women were the unseen link in a very important supply chain. It was
the efforts of these hard working folks that kept our troops around the world supplied. The
efforts of the women in this country are often overlooked. Women made enormous
contributions to the war effort, both on the battlefield and the home front. On the home front,
women took jobs previously held by men – making them their own and women in leadership
Becoming more independent, women adapted their lifestyles to the conditions of the
using goods rationed to them. Though women are not the heroes in some bloody battle,
without their strength behind the scenes, the war effort would have been much different.
Anyone who has listened to their parents or grandparents, talk about “life during the war,”
can tell you, that the war effort took the complete devotion and teamwork of everyone.
Eco Systems
Successful Teams 5
Have you ever wondered just what it is that bears do in the woods? Well as it turns
out they are a great example of symbiosis in nature. Research has shown that bears play a
much more important role in the northwestern forest than we may have realized. Studies have
demonstrated that the large quantities of salmon that the bears drag into the forest may be
responsible for a huge transfer of needed nutrients from the streams into the forest.
According to some scientist, this could be the main reason of the diversity and productivity in
the forest surrounding salmon streams in the northwestern part of the United States.
As a person walks through the forest surrounding the salmon streams, they find the
areas covered with the carcasses of salmon. These carcasses are not just from the bears.
Studies show that eagles and seals also contribute to the number of carcasses. Bears don’t eat
the lower jawbone of salmon this makes it easy to determine how many salmon are left it the
forest. Taking them sometimes as much as 100 meters into the forest, studies have found that
as much as 80% of the salmon that attempt to swim up river end up on the forest floor. After
careful study it has been determined that a single black bear can take as much as 1,600
kilograms into the forest, and only eats about half. The remnants go to scavengers, including
a large number of insects. As the fish decay certain nutrients such as nitrogen go into the soil.
Rotting carcasses and bear droppings account for nitrogen going back into the soil with an
group able of obtaining goals. This process is the foundation and base of the team’s strength.
the development and quality of the team as a whole with particular attention sought in
beneficially individual balancing strengths. For example, a team should consist of a variety
support-oriented personalities. Often it is a good idea to place a person on the team who
opposes (within reason) what the team is inspired to achieve. The team member who is
inclined to express an opposing point of view may stimulate the rest of the team to work
harder. Through coordinated and planned actions, teamwork, and diverse views, the
Once a balanced group of individuals has been selected, a team leader needs to be
chosen based on leadership qualities and qualifications. This person should have a solid
knowledge base, insight and foresight for the impending project. If team members need
help, the leader can assist. Additional major roles includes ensuring that the team members
remain focused on assigned tasks as well as the responsibility of scheduling meetings and
The team leader might choose to appoint task leaders. Task leaders can direct sub-
workgroups that will take care of smaller tasks to complete the larger task (goal).
Team Unity
Just as important as the formation of a team is the unity of the entire team dynamics.
All team members must possess and apply interpersonal skills in communication with one
another. Creating interpersonal skills that promote cohesion helps team members relate to
and to trust each other. The team environment will thus be less threatening resulting and
enabling the free-flow dialogue and sharing of ideas. By establishing unified relationships
and being able to trust one another, the team will develop its own chain of communication.
Successful Teams 7
Project Scope
As the most important element in the success of any project, individual or team-
based, the project scope serves to identify and define the deliverables and objectives by
providing the foundation of understanding among all stakeholders (Riordan, Jeb. 2001). The
basis of the project scope becomes the determining factor as to when the project is actually
finished and the expected goals to be accomplished. The scope is reviewed by the
stakeholders and decision makers and is approved by the customer, the project sponsor, and
team members.
Identifying exclusions, limitations, and/or constraints within the project outline, and
meetings, discussions, and negotiations between team members and the project stakeholders.
The project scope defines the project strategy: how the objective(s) will be met; an overview
of needs with regards to the project; and how the solution will resolve the needs; the product:
a summary of the solution including all deliverables; objectives: written quantifiable goals
Generating Ideas
Creative thinking skills move the project from what is logically developed during the
planning phase and into the “idea” or solution phase. Begin the idea generation process with
the problem list generated during the planning phase (project scope). Brainstorming sessions
Successful Teams 8
“work best when there is an experienced leader or organizer, who knows how to facilitate a
session” (Berkun, Scott. May 2001). “Think tank” creative idea generation begins with the
During brainstorming sessions, team members have a chance to consider and review
the primary goals as well as discuss ideas and steps that can be followed to implement the
specific solution selected. Team dynamics plays an important role as the members introduce
differing views and concepts depending upon their given area of expertise, the level of
contribution they feel they can award the project, and also strengths and weaknesses.
Drawing upon this synergy, the note taker begins to lists the steps noting who would
be responsible. Team member’s offer based upon their workload, a time frame commitment.
A formal timeline is drawn by the Project Manager or Team Leader and accompanies the
notes, goals, tasks, and assigned duties to each team member. This “working document”
becomes the foundation for the “problem solving” aspect of the team.
Use time management skills to work backwards through the project time line and
always hold team members accountable and responsible for their commitment to the time
line. As soon as you notice or even think there may be a delay, notify other team members
who may be able to offer assistance in completing the assigned task and help bring the
Remember that completion of your assigned tasks may affect the time commitment of
other team member as well as the project as a whole. Be considerate and concerned and be
prepared to follow through with whatever it may take for successful completion of the task
Donald Wetmore offers the following tips for avoiding delays in his online article
Leadership
Definition
leadership is “an act or instance of leading; guidance; direction”. This gives some insight to
what leadership is, but I believe an even better definition comes from a military manual, FM
principles: purpose, direction, and motivation. These three elements: purpose, direction, and
motivation, are a leaders tools to accomplish what he/she knows, needs to be done.
• Purpose, represents the end goal and reasons as to why this goal must be
accomplished.
• Direction gives the team supervision and guidance towards a method to accomplish
their purpose.
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• Motivation influences the group to “want to do”, what the leader know has to be
By correctly applying these principles a leader can make a critical difference within
the team by communicating the purpose properly, the team knows what they are working for,
the goal(s) that need to be accomplished, and the desire to achieve team success.
must possess leadership ability and questions to consider include: Can he/she communicate
effectively with their team members? Are they technically knowledgeable on the task at
hand? Can they motivate their people? Why style of leadership does the candidate exercise?
Leadership Styles
The leadership style chosen depends on experience and leadership abilities of team members.
• Directive: the manager makes all decisions and choices for the group. This style is
used when there is little experience in the group and leadership ability among other
group members.
• Participative uses the input of all members of the group to come up with viable
options to accomplishing tasks. This style is used with teams that possess some
team. With accomplishing the assigned task in mind, team members decide how to
accomplish their job. In order for this style of leadership to be successful, team
members must exhibit some leadership characteristics and possess the ability to
Successful Teams 11
manage the tasks and sub-tasks required acting as the project manager. The team
leader is then responsibility for facilitating the development of leadership and project
Leadership Responsibility
Leaders have a responsibility towards his/her team members. There is no “I” in team
but there is a “me”. Every leader must support the growth and ideas of his/her team to
So how does a leader know if he/she is doing a good job? By watching the team, or
supervising. Supervision is another task of a leader and this means ensuring each member is
contributing towards the accomplishment of the final goal safely and timely. This is also a
good time for a leader to note his/her team member’s strengths and weaknesses and to assist
Leadership is a very important factor when it comes to team dynamics and a proper
Discussion
Through coordinated and planned actions, teamwork, and diverse views, the greatest
References
Berkun, Scott. May 2001. #15 – Critical thinking in web/interface design part2: idea
Covey, Stephen R. Covey. (August 1990) The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:
Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group.
Province, Charles M. (1983, 1992, 1998) The Unknown Patton. Hippocrene Books, 1983
http://www.pattonhq.com/unknowntext.html
Shore, Valerie. (January 22, 1999) Other Wildlife and Plants Benefit: Bears are the key
http://communications.uvic.ca/ring/99jan22/bears.html