Student-Friendly Guide: Successful Teamwork!

Dr Peter Levin is an educational developer at LSE. One of his roles is that of ‘teamwork tutor’ for students working on group projects. Prior to taking up his present position he lectured in social policy at LSE. He is author of Making Social Policy (Open University Press, 1997).

• Contents Teamwork in universities. READ THIS FIRST! Part One: Basics and contextWhat do we mean by ‘a team’? The benefits of working in a teamTeamwork skillsAcademic teamwork and the job marketPart Two: Getting startedGet in your groupsGet to know one anotherFormulate your ground rulesThe value of ground rulesMission statementsCommunicationMeetingsTaking decisionsCheck out your assignment and plan your workThe project briefThe elements of project workProgrammes of work: the ‘critical path’Allocating tasksPart Three: How are we doing? Progress on the projectProgress from ‘group’ to ‘team’Personal progressPart Four: Perspectives on team behaviourTensions: the task, the team and the individualTeam rolesManagement systems and team organizationTeam development: forming, storming, norming, performing …The decision-making processNegotiationCultural traits and differencesIndividual traits: ‘cats’ and ‘dogs’Part Five: Teamwork issues and solutionsThe task: getting the work doneGetting help from your teachersSharing the work load: ‘social loafing’The ‘free rider’ problemFocusing on the taskTaking decisions: ‘risky shift’, ‘group polarization’ and ‘groupthink’Personal and inter-personal issuesThe group that doesn’t stormGetting your multi-cultural group to ‘bond’Do teams need leaders?Dealing with a team member who tries to dominateWorking constructively with someone you don’t likeFinding your place in the teamPart Six: Benefiting from the experienceGetting feedback – including appreciationReflectionLearning logsReflective reportsApplying for jobsPolishing up your CVBeing interviewedGroup tests in assessment centresNotes and referencesFurther readingBackground and acknowledgments