SLP Assignment Expectations

The SLP works as follows:

1. Review the instructions for the game below.
2. Locate your virtual team in the Discussion (Module 1 lists the team name and members) and check in.
3.  Communicate with the rest of the team and decide what leadership structure and work design you will use.
4. Do not submit any list of tips yet, just use this time to get organized.

When you have finished getting organized, submit a 2- to 3-page report (the group paper). The report should include:

1. The name of the team. (I have assigned preliminary team names. You can keep the name or come up with your own name.)
2. The leadership structure and work design you chose for your team.
3. A critical evaluation of the process your team went through to get organized and make these initial decisions.

Keys to the SLP Assignments in this Course

The SLP in this course emphasizes critical thinking:

• The SLP is an opportunity for you to put into practice the concepts covered in module—be sure to justify your choices in terms of the characteristics of the task and team membership.
• Did your process resemble any of the models of team process presented in the background material? Was it something different?
• Was it effective?
• What problems did you run into? Were they resolved?

Your paper will be evaluated using the following five (5) criteria:

• Assignment-Driven Criteria (Precision and Breadth): Does the paper fully address all the assignment requirements? Are the concepts behind the assignment addressed accurately and precisely using sound logic? Does the paper meet minimum length requirements?
• Critical Thinking (Critical Thinking and Depth): Does the paper demonstrate graduate-level analysis, in which information derived from multiple sources, expert opinions, and assumptions has been critically evaluated and synthesized in the formulation of a logical set of conclusions? Does the paper address the topic with sufficient depth of discussion and analysis?
• Business Writing (Clarity and Organization): Is the paper well written (clear, developed logically, and well organized)? Are the grammar, spelling, and vocabulary appropriate for graduate-level work? Are section headings included in all papers? Are paraphrasing and synthesis of concepts the primary means of responding to the assignment, or is justification/support instead conveyed through excessive use of direct quotations?
• Effective Use of Information (Information Literacy and References): Does the paper demonstrate that the student has read, understood and can apply the background materials for the module? If required, has the student demonstrated effective research, as evidenced by student’s use of relevant and quality (library?) sources? Do additional sources used in paper provide strong support for conclusions drawn, and do they help in shaping the overall paper?
• Citing Sources: Does the student demonstrate understanding of APA Style of referencing, by inclusion of proper end references and in-text citations (for paraphrased text and direct quotations) as appropriate? Have all sources (e.g., references used from the Background page, the assignment readings, and outside research) been included, and are these properly cited? Have all end references been included within the body of the paper as in-text citations? 

Instructions for the Game

The game is called “Virtual Teams: 101 Tips.” Our goal is to generate a list of practical tips that can increase the effectiveness of virtual teams.

What’s in it for you? Four things:

1. You participate in a fun game.
2. You learn practical tips to improve your virtual teaming skills.
3. You share some practical tips with an eager audience.
4. You achieve fame: Your team get points and, if you are one of the top scorers, your name is placed in the Hall of Fame in the subsequent module.

HOW TO PLAY. Your team needs to come up with a list of practical tips on how to manage a virtual team. Keep your tips brief (three or four sentences and not more than 50 words). Send at least one tip and not more than five tips before the end of Module 2. (Submit as part of the SLP.)

HOW TO WIN. Our panel of judges will select the top three tips at the end of each round. The best tip receives a bonus score of 70 points, the second-best 30 points, and the third-best 10 points. If you are among the top three scorers, your team members’ names are added to our Hall of Fame in the next module. This list is updated at the end of each round.

HOW TO CHEAT. Reflect on your own experience in teams that were not co-located and derive important tips. You can read the background materials or draw on any books, workshops, expert interviews, or surf the Internet to collect virtual teaming tips and rewrite them in your own words. Obviously, I don’t want you to violate copyright laws and we do want you to give credit where it is due. Finally, “mining” tips from past students in this course is completely out-of-bounds.

HOW TO SEND YOUR TIPS. Remember the limit of five tips per round.

The deadline for the first round is the end of Module 2.

Send your team’s tips as described in the module SLP instructions.

WHAT’S NEXT? We will continue this game until the end of Module 4. Every round I will update the list of virtual teaming tips and place them on our Threaded Discussion site in a separate forum titled the “Hall of Fame.” Review this list and continue sending additional tips that do not duplicate the tips already on the list.

MORE FAME. When the game ends, we will select the grand champion with the highest score.

Thank you for participating.

This game and the materials associated have been adapted from the Thiagi Group, Inc. Copyright 2002. Workshops by Thiagi, Inc. All rights reserved.

Notes :

The team name is Team Elite

Our Work design is Modular Design

Modular design – This is perhaps the most commonly used design. In this case, the group meets to decide on task or project goals, work is parceled out to individuals, and then the group meets again to assemble the pieces. The advantages are that the task can be broken down, roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, there is no need for extensive feedback or cooperation, technology supports exchange of work, there is democratic decision making and accountability standards, and one person is ultimately responsible for assembling all pieces.

Our leadership style is a rotating leadership style.