Assessing the Effectiveness of Teamwork in Volkswagen Group

For this assessment I will be writing a reflective essay on the effectiveness of the team and the effectiveness of me as individual experience of the Volkswagen group activity. Reflection as a tool for personal and professional development needs a bit of effort. It is a personal activity, which could lead to a personal form of writing. The use of Kolb (1974) theory assists reflective practice. This theory had 4 stages which are Concrete Experience, Reflective Observation, Abstract Conceptualization and Active Experimentation The use of Kolb model lays a basis experience of observation and reflection. These 4 concepts are occurred as learning process when I working in team which the activities such as thinking and reflecting.

I believe that we were more of a team than a group because as a team we came together having clearing mindset to achieve a common goal which was to complete the Volkswagen group report. It was a formal team because there was specific purpose on working as team which our aims was to complete the report and getting a good mark on it. There was 6 of us in the team and we all did not know each other. No one was immediately willing to take on the position of leader so we elected someone and the person agreed. The team leader divided each topic we had write for the report which we decided to choose what topic each of will write about for the report. I chose to write about Groups and Teams. As a group we would often have meeting in the library and our seminar class and we would bring in useful information that would be relevant to the task. During these meeting we would have effective discussion. Our performance was monitored by our seminar Tutor when we were having meeting during the class. The team was Functional because we supports the goals of the group and improves performance A healthy, constructive disagreement between two or more people At first our team did not seem to be effective because we were all new studying at university. But as time progressed we slowly became confident in working teams. The use of Tuckman’s (1965) theory allowed us to build our team. For Forming the team, we did not know each other very well however this did not to be seem much of problem because we were all friendly in introducing each other by saying our names and our strengths and weakness so that we would support each other. As team we gradually evolved. For Storming this stage enabled the team to improve and grow. Each individual had different attitudes on the tasks which there would sometimes be disagreement. During first 2 meeting the team had some conflict for example a conflict relating on the task. Member A said that he wanted to do the rational organisation however Member B also wanted to do the rational organisation. This disagreement was causing a problem so I suggested that both of them can share the topic which resolve the problem. Normally during this stage team would fail but made we made sure that resolve this problem. Also during this stage no one was immediately willing to take on the position of leader so we unanimously elected the person who had initially proposed. We exchanged contact details, agreed a time plan and arranged our next meeting. For Norming we slowly progress on resolving any differences occurred in the team. During this stage each our team leader motivated us to develop trust and stronger commitment on putting our best effort on the report. Therefore, I was fortunate to belong to a group that worked well together and were well motivated. Due to this degree of co-operation we passed through to the final phase quickly. Finally Performing the team seemed energetic displaying high-performance when working together.

There was some Problems with Group Decision-making. This is because members in the group did always make the right decision. Each member is given a specific in a team by following Belbin. Roles fulfilled the most popular of these theories is provided by Meredith Belbin who developed his famous team role inventory. To identify which roles best fitted us each member completed the Belbin self-assessment document. Within in our team there was Specialist, Completer-finisher, Co-ordinator, Plant and 2 Implementer. I was the specialist which I was successful in this role. This is because I brought in depth knowledge when I was researching which the facts I found was useful. Therefore, my individual effectiveness on teamwork was positive because even I was quiet who had not much to say I always worked hard. I believe my contribution was effective to the team because the skills that I had benefited the team in completing the Volkswagen report. The skills that brought to them that benefited the team was researching, problem solving and IT skills. Due to my positive attitudes and being cheerful within the team I was highly respected by my fellow team members. The team leader assigned me to be the main researcher because one my key strengths is researching. My contribution benefited the team on making the report. In my opinion I could have contributed more to boost the effort of teamwork. I could have done extended research so that as team could have information that nobody would not have. In my opinion I believe we were a winning team because the report we produced seem acceptable. This is because everybody was working hard putting their best effort and no one was not free riding, everybody was working well. Writing 1500 words was not problem for us which we succeed in writing 1500 words. Member C who was is finisher gave the Volkswagen report draft to the seminar tutor. Therefore, he gave a fairly good comment on our draft even though he did not fully mark the draft the seminar tutor said that information was satisfactory. Everybody would regularly come to meetings and seminar to discuss and our performance as team was excellent. The synergy of team was brilliant because everybody was working with interaction and cooperation of each member allowing us to be a winning team.

My overall judgement of the team performance was excellent. This is because as a team, we worked effectively because each of us gave good contribution to supporting our ideas of planning the event. Each of us were effective team members because we were able to complete successfully. As a good team worker, I performed well because I completed tasks successfully and I was supporting my teammates if they needed help. I believe I could improve my team working skills so that next time when I work in a team I will be more confident. Team working skills are important which I will be working in different teams for 3 years. This meaning I will improve my skills. By improving my team working skills it will be beneficial for the future. I can develop this skill reading books about team working and asking Personal Tutor for help. For example, when working in a team, I should improve participation within in the team. I lack of confidence which it is vital I improve this. Therefore, in university I will meet new people, which there might assignments that involves team working improving this skill will make an effective team worker that benefit me achieving good grades from assignments. Also, I would like to develop leadership skill because in the future I would lead a team of my own. By improving this skill, I will feel confident when leading. Therefore, I will need make sure, that my leadership skill will be good which I will self-develop this skill by reading a book about leadership. Time management was problem for me because slow in handing my work to the group leader which he was annoyed and told me to improve my time management in handing the work. Setting up time schedule will surely help me with time management because with this I can keep track on what work comes first. Overall my teamwork experience for the Volkswagen assignment has been positive because I strongly feel that my teamworking skills has improved. I have learned new things about from team members that would be useful in the future. Since I haven’t worked in teams before however doing this assignment made me strongly feel the importance of teamwork that brings excellence of completing tasks in achieving goals.