Collaboration summary of advice from students about how to organize groups for collaborative class projects
In many of our classes, the first discussion involves collaboration. If you look at the number of responses to questions used for that discussion, you will note that by far the greatest number are to the posting about negative collaboration. Apparently, we've all had one or more negative collaborations. You will also notice that most of the difficulties seemed to stem from "affective" and sometimes "procedural" issues. Often, when discussing bad collaboration, I hear about "affective" difficulties even though the project results (the final project submitted) may have been successful (and received an "A").
Sometimes, as students, you may believe that when you graduate and begin your career that you'll not encounter those persons who don't contribute and who don't care about the quality of work completed. WRONG . I find the same types of faculty on committees that I serve on. And you may believe that those persons will be fired . sometimes yes, but, unfortunately, sometimes no, maybe because the projects don't involve the same "shared risk" to all . that is, not all share the same risk of losing if the project is not completed successfully (this "shared risk" concept is discussed on the website about collaboration in terms of the dimensions of collaboration) .Learn to live with the situation described in this paragraph.
Review the dimensions of collaboration summarized in a table on the website about collaboration at http://core.ecu.edu/engl/southards/tips/collabor/lcollab1.htm#dimensions
In academic settings, you may stay up late to be sure you submit a project that is perfect. As one student noted, "Sometimes good, but not perfect, is acceptable, especially in a work environment where many projects must be completed." Yes, you need to prepare quality work; however, you need to be able to live with "good, but not perfect."
Below you'll find some responses that provide excellent advice about how to have an effective collaboration.
This information may be a repeat for those of you who completed other classes with me. It won't, however, hurt you to re-read. If you've already read and re-read, then go on to another class task.
Response #1
Recently, I had the opportunity to work with a wonderful group. It is difficult to name one characteristic that made the group successful. Instead, there were several key elements.
First, we divided the tasks. This allowed each group member to concentrate on one area and do it successfully. In addition, it did not force all the work onto one person. Someone was in charge of research. Another member was in charge of organizing the ideas and drafting. A third person was in charge of editing the project.
Second, communication was critical. We were not able to meet more than once a week. Therefore, we gave each other status reports every two days. In addition, our main communication was through e-mail. This allowed us to send our project to each other and revise it easily.
Finally, we set deadlines for ourselves. This gave us a goal to work toward.
Response #2
My sister, Ruth, works on the marketing team of a global company and reports directly to the president of the firm's North American division. She related to me a successful collaboration experience that involved 10 different business units and required the reorganization of 1000 employees.
In Fall 2000, these units collaborated in a six-week, "all hands on deck" effort to make the projected year-end revenues. Unit representatives comprised a core team to assess each unit and assign personnel to assist the company's account executives. They utilized all employees with pertinent talents as well as new graduates of their "Top Gun" management program. This global reorganization required both face-to-face and electronic collaboration.
According to Ruth, the effort improved intra-team communication and raised skill levels by forcing employees to work outside their regular functional areas. They broadened their understanding of each business unit's role within the company. The knowledge and management sharing decreased the company's vulnerability. The collaboration resulted in an additional $1 million in revenues in the last six weeks of the year.
As an advertising copywriter/producer, I collaborate regularly with AE's, graphic designers, and videographers to produce marketing materials for clients. Our communications generally incorporate face-to-face and electronic methods. My experiences have been positive with a "whatever gets the job done by deadline" approach. Project and client diversity bring a combination of excitement, anxiety, creativity and satisfaction to my work. Electronic communication offers the speed and convenience that successful collaboration requires.
Response #3 . . .
During the first year and a half after I graduated from college, I worked as a technical recruiter. Our office consisted of about eight recruiters who were responsible for filling job requirements with qualified employees. Looking back on that experience, I realize that our success as an office depended on a tight structure of collaboration.
The office atmosphere was fast-paced and high stress. In order for the company to stay afloat, salespeople were required to find clients with job openings. Once the position was verified, a recruiter would be given the go ahead to find a qualified candidate for the job. In some cases a candidate would be hard to find and the deadline to fill the position would hang like a guillotine over the recruiter. At this precise moment, recruiters and salespeople would drop everything to help the recruiter find a candidate for the job.
I found this experience to be the essence of positive collaboration: a group of individuals uniting to help one.
Response #4
There are several steps that can be taken to better ensure the the success and efficiency of collaborative groups. First, assign members to the group who have a variety of skills, such as technical knowledge, research experience, writing experience, etceteras. Dr. Southard has indicated that she will establish groups in this way, so groups should be off to a good start!
Secondly, share contact information immediately after groups are established so that an initial meeting can be scheduled and everyone can contact group members as necessary.
At the first meeting, determine roles and responsibilities of each member. (Before the first meeting, ask members to take the Kiersey Inventory for self-exploration purposes. [Members may share their personality with other group members or not, as they choose]). Also, set guidelines for the group at the first meeting. For example, as communication is critical, suggest that each group member set up an email "group list" that includes all members of the group. It may also be suggested that each group member check his or her email at least once daily if at all possible.
Early on, establish schedules, both meeting (electronic and/or face-to-face) schedules, and project deadlines for each member. Also early in the process, establish a web page, discussion thread, or some other means of "public" communication that all members may access to expedite group communication.
These are initial thoughts. I'm sure there are many other factors that can enhance the efficiency of collaborative groups and the ultimate "success" of their projects. Please make additional suggestions!
Response #5
I have thought about the topic of collaboration and various thoughts and ideas have come to mind. I will say I had some good collaborative experiences when I was teaching; however, I will share my thoughts speaking from the student perspective. Last semester, it was an individual's responsibility to find someone or two in the class to write a paper with.
I was fortunate to pair myself off with two hard working individuals. We were able to make our paper successful because we divided the responsibilities and came together as one to finish our end product of the paper. We came to a consensus before we even began the project on meeting times, responsibilities, and expectations. We also gave ourselves deadlines that were a week prior to due dates just in case of any problems. We corresponded with each other throughout the project to communicate progress and dilemmas. Our efforts to communicate on a professional as well as a personal level also posed as a motivator to do well on our particular parts, knowing it would reflect the others in the group. We three kept our objectives a priority and were able to have a successful semester together. I feel as an individual we all have to take responsibility in order for collaborative efforts on projects, papers, professional events, etc. to be a success.
Response #6
I had a very positive group experience last semester. In a MIS class, we had to form a four person group with at least one female in each group. In my group their was a social worker (female), an engineer, a full time student, and I run my family farm and go to school.
Once we knew our group, we sat down together and decided on what roles each member would perform for the semester. Then we established some rules for the group, and also made out a tentative schedule of meetings. We all had busy schedules, but we were able to make time each week to meet. We understood that each week might be different, and we were able to work around that problem. As a group, we would always divided up the work load, and combine the material when we met each week.
At the end of the semester, our group received an A on the project. I believe that all members of my group were good collaborators. Each meeting we would discuss pro's and con's of an idea without hurting the feelings of the member who generated the idea. We also would laugh and joke for part of the meeting, but it always seemed to be when we were done for the night.
Collaboration is definitely an important part of any group. Members should understand that they must express their ideas and feelings with their groups members so that everyone will understand what the other is thinking.
Response #7
Clear goals, specific objectives, defined roles/tasks, project schedules, and strong communication are essential to effective collaboration. Approaches to collaboration depend on the end product and the method of collaborating (online vs face to face).
I have found through my own experience that a good approach to online collaboration begins with someone in the group creating an email distribution list of all the members and then sending regular updates of progress, objectives still to be met, changes in plans, etc. Making sure everyone is "on the same page" helps keep people focused on their own tasks and informed about what others in the group are doing.
The End.
— Sherry Southward
(southards@mail.ecu.edu)