Soc 110 teamwork collaboration and conflict resolution

Individual

Teams in the 21st Century Reflection Paper

Write a 350- to 700-word paper about the relevance of teams and their advantages based on Ch. 1 of Working in Groups, this week’s Electronic Reserve Readings, and your previous experience working with teams. Include answers to the following questions in your paper:

· What experiences have you had working with teams? Have these been positive experiences? Explain why or why not. What have you learned from these experiences?

· How are teams used in the workplace? How are teams used in education, athletics, or the arts? What are the advantages to teamwork? Provide specific examples.

· How might stronger team skills benefit you? How might you use teamwork skills in your field? Provide specific examples.

Include at least one reference.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Individual

Culture Video

Review the video “Focus: Culture” on the student website.

Respond to the questionnaire following the video selections.

Consider the following questions and provide your response:

· Identify the differences between race and culture. Discuss the distinctions between the two.

· Why are these distinctions important?

· What are the advantages of attending a diverse campus?

· What are the potential issues of a lack of diversity?

· What do you like best about your culture?

· What would you change about your culture if you could?

· For many, much of their perception about cultures comes from TV and the movies they watch. How is this a potential problem?

· What do different cultures often have in common? Why do you think this is so?

· Is an individual born into a culture, or does he or she adapt to a culture? Explain.

· Can a person become so centered on his or her own culture that his or her ability to work with a group of diverse individuals on a common goal is affected?

Learning Team

Case Study

Create an agenda.

Plan a meeting using the Monday Morning Blues case study from Ch. 12 of Working in Groups.

Use the example agenda in Figure 12.2 (Ch.12) of Working in Groups to guide the formatting of your team’s agenda.

Submit the agenda.

Individual

Conflict Resolution Worksheet

Review the Resolving Conflicts in Teams simulation located on the student website.

Complete the Conflict Resolution Worksheet, based on the simulation and Ch. 9 of Working in Groups.

Submit the Conflict Resolution Worksheet.

Learning Team

What Makes a Team Click?

Review Group Motivation in Ch. 6 of Working in Groups.

Write a 750- to 1,050-word paper and discuss why the individuals on the team are motivated to work with others. Include the following:

· Compare individual motives that are conducive to successful teamwork.

· Compare motives that may have a negative effect on teamwork.

· Discuss how motives contribute to team cohesion.

· Describe how cohesion affects team motivation.

· Describe how maintenance roles contribute to team cohesion.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Individual

Communication Paper

Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper about verbal and nonverbal communication between cultures and genders based on Ch. 7 of Working in Groups and on research on the Internet and in the University Library. Answer the following questions:

· How do people communicate? How are verbal and nonverbal communications different? Provide examples.

· What are challenges in communicating between genders? How might someone of the opposite gender understand similar information differently than you? Provide examples.

· What are challenges in communicating across cultures? How might someone from another cultural background understand communication styles differently than you? Provide examples.

· How might you communicate more effectively in diverse environments? Provide examples.

Include at least three references.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Individual

Controversy in the Classroom

Use the controversial issue you selected to prepare a supporting argument, and then refute your controversial issue.

Use the four steps of an argument presented in Ch. 11 of Working in Groups when developing your supporting argument.

Use the six steps of refuting an argument described in Ch. 11 of Working in Groups.

Write a 700- to 1,400-word paper in which you include the following:

· Present your supporting and refuting arguments.

· Explain how the four-steps of an argument was used to present your supporting argument.

· Explain how the six-steps of a refuting argument was used to present your refuting argument.

Include a 5- to 10-slide Microsoft® PowerPoint® presentation in which you present your supporting and refuting arguments in accordance with the four- and six-step methods of presenting and refuting an argument.

Format your paper and presentation consistent with APA guidelines.

Learning Team

Creative Problem-Solving Demonstration

Complete a three-part problem-solving technique using one of three techniques discussed in Ch. 10 of Working in Groups.

Write a 1,250- to 1,450-word-paper divided it into the following three parts:

Part I: Select

Discuss and choose the technique that will best help them solve the problem.

Explain why the technique was chosen and briefly summarize how this technique can be conducted in a virtual team environment.

Discuss which of the three techniques offers the most promise to help solve the problem. The three techniques: Brainstorming, Nominal Group Technique, or Decreasing Option Technique are found in Ch. 10 of Working in Groups.

Decide on a problem-solving technique.

Provide a brief overview explaining why this technique was chosen.

Explain which technology or technologies work best with this method and for your group.

Review the inset, Virtual Groups: Adapting Decision-Making and Problem-Solving Methods in Ch. 10 of Working in Groups to help you with your decision.

Part II: Conduct

Use the guidelines detailed in Working in Groups of the problem-solving technique you have chosen to arrive at a solution.

Explain how your team adapted or modified the guidelines for your team.

Explain how your group functioned or worked together during each phase or step of your chosen technique.

Describe any outcomes or products the group created along the way.

State your solution.

Include any outcomes or products described above as an appendix to the team paper.

Note. The Appendix does not count toward word count.

Part III: Debrief conclusion: Present the team assignment

Provide any insights your team gained for the usefulness of the technique in problem-solving applications.

Provide any adaptations made to the problem solving technique that you choose and if you would recommend them for future use.

Submit your team’s final solution in Week Five.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines

Week 1 DQ 1

What are the advantages of working in teams? When might working in teams be a disadvantage? Please be specific and reflect the course reading.

Week 1 DQ 2

From your past work in teams, describe your experiences with the stages of team development discussed in Ch. 2 of Working in Groups. Be sure to address ALL of the stages

Week 2 DQ 1

Consider meetings in which you have participated. How did an agenda or lack of an agenda affect those meetings? In what circumstances could it make sense for a meeting to have no agenda (and still be effective).... if any?

Week 2 DQ 2

After examining the self-centered roles in Ch. 3 of Working in Groups, discuss how these roles affect teambuilding and teamwork.

Week 3 DQ 1

Read the case study Sociology in Trouble on p. 213 (Ch. 9) of Working in Groups. In what ways was the conflict constructive or destructive in this group? Why?

Week 3 DQ 2

Are leaders born or made? Is leadership more a matter of personal characteristics or a collection of specific behaviors that anyone can learn? Consider Ch. 5 in Working in Groups as you formulate your answer

Week 4 DQ 1

Of the strategies to improve listening skills discussed in Ch. 8 in Working in Groups, which might work best in a team environment? Please fully explain your answer.

Week 4 DQ 2

Is it possible to be too much of an active listener? Please explain your answer in detail and be sure to clearly define "active" listening.