Transcript Elaine`s powerpoint

Making the whole greater
than its parts
BMEN 403 - Team Design Projects
Elaine Horn
11/19/08
“By your powers combined…”
Part I
Working in a team
First Things First
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Does everyone know the mission?
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Measurement of success
Knowing your role
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If you don’t know your role in the team, find out!
Team leader presses progress along
Keeps you from stepping on each other’s toes
First Things First
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Division of labor:
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‘Team Leader’ – changing administrator
Spokesperson, writer, coordinator, skilled person
Electrician/handyman
Paperwork is easier (and more accurate) when
everyone works on it
Internal Communication
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Listen to others
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Listen to problems, then offer advice
No criticism! Create an uninhibitive environment
Keep an open channel of communication
Use different perspectives to your advantage
Internal Communication
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Everyone needs to stay informed of
everything that goes on with the team
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Respond to emails
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Acknowledge emails and respond, even if it is just
to say “okay, that sounds good”
Internal Communication
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When there is a disagreement…
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Pull the leader in and resolve the issue
Who gets credit?
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Leader makes sure everyone gets credit when it’s
due
Eyes on the Prize
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Pay attention to deadlines
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Leader takes care of this
Start from the end date and back up from there
when making deadlines
Eyes on the Prize
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Have regular reviews
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Everyone stays on task and did their part
No surprises for the team! Nobody likes surprises!
If you need help on your part, get help from
your teammates
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No shame in this
Part II
Working as a team with a client
Communication with Client
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Make sure the client has a SINGLE point of
contact
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Keeps discussion the same
Keeps discrepancies at a minimum
Talk in groups – this helps keep misinterpretations
at a minimum
Meeting with Client
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Determine the goal of the meeting with the
client beforehand
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Accomplish those points - that makes a good
meeting
Need one person to be the spokesperson
All of this also applies to faculty panel meetings
Meeting with Client
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Always restate back to the client what you
intend to do
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Make sure everything is understood
Assume nothing!
Meeting with Client
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Recap with team – client debrief immediately
after meeting
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Take minutes and distribute internally
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Important when a team member is missing
Make sure everyone knows what to do next
Final Remarks
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These are only guidelines
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Find your own system
Can’t predict everything
Learning by doing
Happily ever after…
Team Procrastinasties
2007 - 2008