Question

Discussion Topic:

Tell the class about a time you faced an issue (at work or in your personal life) where you made a decision that you later came to regret.

Do you think you could have made a better decision using the rational model? Why or why not?  

Again, don’t identify anyone by name and keep in mind this is a class assignment (not a counseling session) , and don’t share any examples that might make the rest of us wish we hadn’t read it.

Answer 1

I was working on a project at my workplace. In my office, projects are allotted on team basis where each team member is given a substantial job. Initially when the project got approval, a project team was formed. The team was in the forming stage. Team members were introduced to each other by the manager. In the planning stage, the team members got to know about the work style and approach of every other member. There were issues in collaboration and coordination. The team had entered into the storming stage of team development. At this stage, the manager intervened and divided tasks among the members. Every team member was required to take ownership of his or her job. This led the team to the norming stage. Eventually people started working and project started building up from scratch. The team had entered into the performing stage. Everything was going quite well. The team dynamics was good. There was a positive synergy with which each ,member worked. However, there was a member, Berry who had a habit of procrastinating work, because of which the entire project was suffering. I went to confront him regarding the same, but instead of feeling responsive, the person started blame-gaming and a conflict happened in the team. The manager used People Capability Maturity Model based assessment method to solve the conflict and manage the team effectively. Eventually everything went back to track and the team was able to give the results in time. After the project got the closure, the team entered in the adjourning stage. The project deliverables were frozen and the project team was released.

In my views, a rational model could have been quite strategic in developing the team for successful completion of the project. To create a strategic team building process in any company, following steps must be followed under the rational model:

• Establish leadership: Usually the team looks upon the leadership for inspiration, channelization of energy as well as guidance in the right direction. Hence the leader for the team must be chosen based on the attitude and thought process of the team members.
• Establish relationship in the team: It is quite critical to have clarity in the team. Each team member must bond with the other team member, know his strengths and weaknesses and have clarity about their skill sets. The leader must also bond well with the team so that the team synergy is positive and the team is set to work together.
• Recognize the importance of teamwork: The leader must lay the importance of teamwork in front of the team members. Several real life and company examples can be shared with the team to stress the importance of teamwork.
• Foster teamwork: The leader must develop a work breakdown structure for the project and allocate work to the team members based on their strengths and inclinations. Every team member must play to his strengths, so as to perform his best. Meanwhile the leader must also develop personalized development plan for his team members, focusing on their weaknesses.
• Set the ground rules and practice team skills: The team must have clear communication lines across the project. This will help in eliminating any kind of confusions, which can cause team conflicts and may affect the flow of the project. Decision making and problem solving must be dealt with, at group level with the leader leading from the front. The leader must encourage the team members to come up with their point of view. This will foster autonomy and responsibility in the team. All these skills will foster teamwork and help them to achieve success in the project.