Group Development Our Group\'s Experiences

Group Development

Our group's experiences in team development underwent its own stages: From getting-to-know stage to familiarity and finally getting our work done based on our aspiration and patterning our project with our objectives.

Before I go further, let me tell you a bit of what our project is all about. Our team is composed of six people tasked to tackle and do research about medical supply industry, particularly SONARK Medical Supply Company.

During initial formation, our team can be considered as a composition of individuals rather than truly a group. There is a lot of exploration as we get to know each other. Here, each introduces his or herself and gives a bit of a background to the group. I call this getting-to-know stage or orientation stage. I believe it to be a critical part of group development since this is where perception of a member is developed and an idea as to how each could contribute in the team's success. This is the stage where we jot down our objectives, expectations, ground rules and draw a consensus as to selecting who will lead the team. In this instance, it was me who was selected to be the leader our group.

Considering that the group is in its initial stage, it is beneficial to have someone to guide and disseminate information such as group objectives, which is to primarily understand, analyze SONARK Medical Supply Company, its contributions in the society and if its continuous improvements and business expansion, if any, would be beneficial for the Company in the long run, set deadlines as to when each task shall be completed and have a good ear to listen, support and guide the team in meeting its objectives.

Succeeding the orientation stage is the concern of whether the team could effectively deliver its output despite our individual differences. This part of team development is where debates, discussions and conflicts could arise. As we get to know each other, we feel comfortable in the group, thus we become willing and more at ease to share our ideas and style. In piloting our team, it has been my task to mediate, listen to our members and encourage each member to participate and contribute his or her ideas and disregard having a leader. In this part, we are all created equal. There is no big or small contribution. We openly communicate our opinion, judgment and ideas in making our project more satisfying.

Divergence in opinions and outlook can be a potential problem. However, conflicts or challenges never occur in the team. In our experiences we are able to address our individuality and give importance to each member's contributions. There is no major conflict and we are agreeable and respectful team. However, it does not preclude us from having challenging discussions and thought-provoking debates.

With everything said, I can say that these lead to overall cohesiveness in our group because each member is equip with the knowledge and confidence that we can complete this project successfully. There is collaboration among team members and we are proactive and hands-on in our project development.

We are able to establish teamwork at an early stage. Each of us contributed in our research and reading. We make it our individual as well as team's accountability and responsibility to ensure that our assigned tasks are complete and done based on our time table. Also, we make sure each of us participate during our meeting and whenever there is someone on the floor talking, we stop doing our thing as we listen to him or her pouring out his or her ideas.

From the orientation stage of "composition of individuals," we emerge as a unifying team of "We." We continuously share information and in addition, recognize each other's strengths, give and solicit feedbacks to each other for the group's improvement in a positive and productive manner.

We are fortunate enough not to have undergone the feeling of delusion and disillusion. The team is able to work in a productive and harmonious manner. We are able to easily adapt to and accept changes. Considering that we had a good start, each team members participate in every phase of accomplishing our projects and we never had problems as to meeting timelines and achieving our objectives. Having knowledge with the project and familiarity, we are able to optimize our resources, researches and individual thoughts and contributions. There are also a positive interpersonal relationships, established camaraderie and good communication between team members. Each of us are able to contribute ideas and challenge them without the need of worry that one would get offended or would take it against the other person for the criticism one has to make. We are able to understand that discussions and deliberations would be beneficial to our group.

To sum it all up, the group is very successful in delivering its output and achieving its objective. There is focus and open-mindedness. We are able to adjust with each other, has the passion to achieve our common goal which is to provide a quality output, particularly a good analysis and research of SONARK Medical Supply Company.

What were the challenges of not having an assigned leader?

It is very important to designate a leader to stay on task and designate jobs. A leader provides a member direction and focus. He or she is a common link among its members. It is good to have someone who can arbitrate or intercede among members who have conflicts and have someone that can mediate to help resolve any issues.

What were the challenges of operating in a virtual environment?

Since we have to undergo and walkthrough the company profile and go through the details of its goals, mission vision and SWOT analysis, familiarity with the topic is a challenge. We have to be resourceful in obtaining our resources and ensure that everything we show in the report is reasonably accurate and factual. It is a great help and an advantage that one of our tem members is familiar and extremely knowledgeable in this particular field because of her current occupation. Moreover, each of us shows a sense of accountability and contributed in keeping ourselves checked at all times, ensuring that and adequate information is disseminated among the teams and time table is being met. With these positive notes, the team is able to address the challenge that arose.

What strengths do you think you brought to the team? What role did you play?

My role in the team is to pilot our team in achieving our objectives. Also, I am tasked to do the SWOT analysis of SONARK.

Being a leader, I am more of a mediator and chose not to exercise dominance or aristocracy. This is to promote a comfortable environment in which my group members would be at ease and have the feeling of openness in sharing his or her output. Showing dominance or being lenient to the team is a person's discretion. I believe that there is a time when you have to be firm and strict to your group members for them to show respect and to follow. However, it has been propitious for me that my team members show respect and have sense of responsibility.