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Margret, here are some possible things that you might want to have them include.  I would suggest that at some point you think about having individuals write about their group experience, as a dysfunctional group will have a paper that results out of dysfunctional processes (e.g. if someone is dominating the group then that person's views will be reflected in the paper while others may not feel comfortable expressing their views).

What decision making process did you adopt (consensus, majority, deference to strongest opinion, etc.)?

Who emerged as the leader and how did that occur?

How did you divide responsibilities within the team?

Did everyone participate fully, or did some loaf or dominate? (This would only apply to individual papers)

How much conflict did you experience?

How much of the conflict was functional vs. dysfunctional?

How did working as a group affect the products you produced?

Looking back, what would you have done differently?

Looking forward, what advice would you give to a team that was just forming?

Hope this helps

Jeff Peterson

<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Washington</st1:placename></st1:place>

jgpeters@u.washington.edu

Hi all,

I am asking MBA students to write a team paper about their experiences with their project team during the course of the semester.  Can anyone provide me with a useful format/outline for such a paper and/or a grading rubric?

Thanks,
Peg Williams

Margaret L. (Peg) Williams, Associate Professor
<st1:placename w:st="on">Virginia</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Commonwealth</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">School</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Business</st1:placename></st1:place>
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:street w:st="on">P. O. Box</st1:street> 844000</st1:address>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Richmond</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">VA</st1:state> <st1:postalcode w:st="on">23284-4000</st1:postalcode></st1:place>  Telephone: (804)828-1530
Fax: (804)225-4790

Mathew L. Sheep, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Management
College of Business
Illinois State University
Campus Box 5580
Normal, IL 61790-5580
Phone. (309) 438-3468
E-mail. msheep@ilstu.edu

Hi all,

I am asking MBA students to write a team paper about their experiences with their project team during the course of the semester.  Can anyone provide me with a useful format/outline for such a paper and/or a grading rubric?

Thanks,
Peg Williams

Margaret L. (Peg) Williams, Associate Professor
Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Business
P. O. Box 844000
Richmond, VA 23284-4000  Telephone: (804)828-1530
Fax: (804)225-4790

Peg,

I'm new to this listserv but I've enjoyed the sharing of information and such in the short time I've been a member.  I thought I'd share what I use in my undergraduate <st1:place w:st="on">OB</st1:place> course since it sounds like it might be relevant.  They work in groups to build a tower during the course of the semester.  While the actual tower is part of the grade, the majority of the grade comes from an individual paper each team member writes.  The instructions I provide to them are pasted below and a grading rubric is attached.  Hope this is useful.

Part II – The Build  (20%)

In this project you will compete with other groups in the class.  There will be one winner.  Build a tower which will be judged equally on the following five criteria:

1.       beauty

2.       strength

3.       originality

4.       height

5.       oral interpretation to judge(s)

The tower must symbolize the group in some fashion.  Judges will evaluate a presentation (number 5 above) which explains how the tower is an expression of the group.  Each category carries a maximum of 10 points.  The group which has the highest total points will be declared the winner of the competition.

Each group will give a three-four minute oral interpretation of their tower.

Build details:

            Groups are to bring to class on the "tower build" day any scrap materials that will fit together into a box no larger than 9 cubic feet (3'x3'x3').  No parts may be purchased.  No parts may be prefabricated before class. No spray paint or glass.

Part III – Peer Evaluation (10%)

            Using the grading scheme in the contract above, you are to give a grade for each group member.  You must use specifics for each grade (exp. Joe did not come to the second meeting -5).  This grade will be used in the formulation of the final project grade for each group member.  You must turn in your peer evaluation when you submit your paper or the paper will not be accepted.

Part IV – The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Individual</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Tower</st1:placetype></st1:place> Build Paper (70%)

            This term paper is a vehicle in which you look over the entire time your group was developing the tower project.  I expect you to be analytical in explaining what happened and why the group developed as it did; what consequences were for individual and group productivity, satisfaction, and learning.  And finally, I expect you to demonstrate your grasp of the conceptual material presented in the text and developed in class by using the concepts to guide and illuminate your analysis.

            As a consequence your term paper will be evaluated against the following criteria.

1.  Scope (thoroughness) - Does the paper discuss a number of dimensions (norms, roles, group dynamics, subgrouping, etc.) rather than a few?

2.  Richness of observation - Does your paper describe or analyze events that indicate that you were attentive to what was happening between and within members?

3.  Analysis – Is you analysis insightful, identifying less obvious and more subtle causes and consequences of group behavior?

4.  Conceptual understanding – Do you utilize concepts/theories (at least five) from the text in explaining events and consequences?  Does the paper in other ways demonstrate that you have a grasp of the conceptual material (e.g., proper labeling of events?

5.  Flow – Do you examine the evolution of your group through time rather than describe it in purely static terms?

6.  Writing – Is the paper adequately written.  Is there clarity, coherence, style, grace?  Do you deal with topics in an organized fashion?

7.  Personal learning – Does the paper indicate that you have increased your self-awareness, and enhanced your competency to function effectively in a group?

Hi all,

I am asking MBA students to write a team paper about their experiences with their project team during the course of the semester.  Can anyone provide me with a useful format/outline for such a paper and/or a grading rubric?

Thanks,
Peg Williams

Margaret L. (Peg) Williams, Associate Professor
<st1:placename w:st="on">Virginia</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Commonwealth</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">School</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Business</st1:placename></st1:place>
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:street w:st="on">P. O. Box</st1:street> 844000</st1:address>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Richmond</st1:city>, <st1:state w:st="on">VA</st1:state> <st1:postalcode w:st="on">23284-4000</st1:postalcode></st1:place>  Telephone: (804)828-1530
Fax: (804)225-4790

Not sure why the attachment didn't attach, so here is mine in the body of this message.

Objectives:

1.      Analyze your group's profile and dynamics to determine patterns of effectiveness and ineffectiveness.

2.      Develop a plan for team improvement for the remainder of the semester.

3.      Build commitment to helping your group become a disciplined, high performing team.

Grading:  This paper is to be completed by your team.  That is, the group paper is itself group work.  All team members will get the same grade, the grade assigned to the paper. It is worth 25% of the OB portion of your 302 grade.  Evaluation will be based on how well you apply the concepts and models from class to your analysis of your team, as well as how effectively you convey your points.

The Team Analysis should:

a.       Analyze and explain your team's composition, strengths and weaknesses, use of individual differences and diversity, and how these are used to create an environment conducive to good teamwork (or where any failures in this regard rest). Be sure to apply the frameworks and concepts from your assigned OB readings and from our class discussions and exercises. You will need to present data (evidence) along with your analysis of them in order to do this assignment effectively. For data you should use group and individual behaviors you have observed in your team. These might include descriptions of experiences involving team project assignments, your work for Mr. Akin (workbook exercises) and what you learned about teamwork from doing the subarctic survival exercise, or anything else you feel is relevant to developing insights.

b.      Identify actions your team is committed to taking for how you as a team will improve your work together throughout the rest of the semester.

Your team analysis paper will be limited to six pages of double-spaced, 12-point text.  However, you may attach as many appendices as you like. I recommend that you do your analysis first and make summary tables of your data to show how you arrived at your conclusions (these will comprise your appendices), and then write your report based on your findings. Teams that try to do all these steps at once, generally do less well than teams who take the time to analyze their work together, reflect on that analysis, and then write their paper.

-----Original Message-----
From: Organizational Behavior Division Listserv [mailto:OB@AOMLISTS.pace.edu] On Behalf Of Margaret L Williams/AC/VCU
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 10:08 AM
To: OB@AOMLISTS.pace.edu
Subject: evaluating a team paper

Hi all,

I am asking MBA students to write a team paper about their experiences with their project team during the course of the semester.  Can anyone provide me with a useful format/outline for such a paper and/or a grading rubric?

Thanks,
Peg Williams

Margaret L. (Peg) Williams, Associate Professor
Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Business
P. O. Box 844000
Richmond, VA 23284-4000  Telephone: (804)828-1530
Fax: (804)225-4790