140217L - BEING AN EFFECTIVE TEAM PLAYER

Management game for 3rd year medical students Faculty of Medicine, King Fahad Medical City Riyadh February 17, 2014 by Professor Omar Hasan Kasule MB ChB (MUK), MPH (Harvard), DrPH (Harvard)

Learning objectives

• To identify the attributes of a successful team
• To facilitate the operation of small-group learning
• To maximize the power of teams to improve learning

Keywords

• Team-player,
• Small-group learning

Objective Of The Game

1. The objective of this game is to put into practice principles of effective team-work.
2. Each team will have the task of making a strategy and an action plan that will enable fulfilling defined practical tasks. Success in the game will depend on good and effective team work.

Evaluation Of The Teams

1. Each team will be given a score on each of 2 assessment areas (a) process evaluation (team or group dynamics) (b) outcome evaluation (successful completion of the task within the allocated time). Judges will stay with the team during planning and also during task execution. They will award scores to the team using score sheets.
2. Scores of the teams will be totaled up and displayed at the end of the game. The criteria used will be distributed and will be discussed by all participants with Professor OHK moderating the discussions. An attempt will be made to summarize lessons on team work that will have been learned.

Instructions For Players 1

1. You will be divided into several teams each consisting of 5-10 persons. Team allocations will be entirely random and you will have no say on the allocation process. You must wear sports clothing with suitable shoes. 
2. Each team will have to carry out two tasks. The first task will be carried out simultaneously by all the teams. The second task will be carried out by each team one at a time while the others watch or even create confusion.

Instructions For Players 2

1. Each team will be given a maximum of 10 minutes to meet as a team and plan its strategy for each task. During the planning stage, the team will be allowed to practice the task. They however will not be allowed to talk to members of the opposing teams or even to eavesdrop on their discussions. 
2. Each team will be given a maximum of 15 minutes to accomplish the task. One score point will be deducted for each minute of delay beyond this time limit.

Task #1

1. The team will have the task of building (a) paper (s) columns that can support the given object for 30 seconds without falling down. Only materials supplied by the game organizers will be used for this task.
2. The aim of the team should be building the tallest column possible. The team will score 3 points for each centimeter of column height. These score points will be applied if the column is able to withstand the load without collapsing for 30 seconds or more. If the column collapses within 30 seconds the team will score a zero for task completion

Task #2

1. The team will have the task of guiding a blind-folded member bearing a flag to walk from one point to another while avoiding obstacles on the way. The team will be awarded 20 score points for successful completion of the task. Hitting or touching an obstacle however light will lead to deduction of one score point.
2. Team members will have to devise a communication system to guide the pusher of the wheel chair. All communication must be in dictionary English. The terms ‘turn left’ and ‘turn right’ will not be allowed. A point will be deducted for each violation of the above language restrictions.
3. Team members will not be allowed to touch the flag bearer or get too close in an attempt to guide him physically. Each violation of this rule will result in deduction of one score point.
4. Members of other teams in the competition will be allowed to follow the flag-bearer and to communicate in any way they like including confusing the pusher of the wheel chair. They however will not be allowed to make any physical contact.

Criteria For Team Maturity

1. Giving and accepting feedback
2. Democratic decision making    
3. Group cohesion        
4. Flexibility of members
5. Use of all member resources    
6. Members feel free to disagree
7. Everyone is free to express an opinion
8. Humor is the norm
9. Communication is effective    
10. Group sets clear strategies and goals
11. Interdependence Among members
12. Shared participation and not dictatorship
13. Listening to and considering minority views

Criteria For Team Effectiveness

1. Productivity
2. Positive handling of complaints
3. Positive conflict resolution
4. Commitment to goals
5. Action-orientation
6. Dealing with apathy of some members
7. Encouraging creativity and innovation
8. Competence of team managers/leaders
9. Effectiveness of meetings and discussions
10. Effective communication
11. Trust among team members
12. Making sure decisions are understood by all
13. Feeling good as a team member
14. Principled behavior