Team Case and Action Plan –Short essay option

Guide and Grading Rubric

Below you have the situation of troubled, diverse team which you have been just asked to manage. You decide how to approach the situation or problem.  Through a set of short-answer essay questions identify how you would manage this situation as the leader.

Short answer essay means that you review each question (listed later in the guide) and answer that question with several sentences to explain your answer.  For most of the questions, you are likely to structure your answer into 2 or more paragraphs, with one topic per paragraph to explain clearly and logically.

The Situation

You are the new leader of a 6-person team. The team all works out of a large medical device/pharmaceutical company in NJ. It is tasked with researching an implant/pump that can increase management of insulin release for Type 2 Diabetics.  If successful the project will be highly rewarded—not only will the team’s professionals be developing a profitable product for the company, but the device will be very beneficial to diabetics all over the world.  

The team is made up of the following people:

John – 43 year old (Afro-American)

Julie – 51 year old (Chinese)

Jinsoo – 27 year old (Korean)

Darius – 32 year male (Iranian)

Harpreet – 30 year old female (Indian)

Tom – 33 year old (Irish)

And you, the new manager (your national culture)

Darius and Harpreet joined the team 3 months ago. The rest of the team has been together for more than 9 months. The team has been working on the implant pump that is due to be delivered in 45 days. You, as the leader, have a lot riding on this project, including a promotion.

Darius and Harpreet have unique skills and experience that require them to work together on a key part of your project however, they do not get along and have been bickering and complaining about each other for the last month or so. Today, Harpreet complained to you that Darius, as a Muslim, has been deliberately undermining her and does not respect her because she is a woman and a Hindu.

The rest of team knows of this tension and are distracted by the situation.   Your project is getting off schedule and the project deadline is now 45 days away.

SCHEDULE: See Assignment link introduction to this assignment.

SUBMIT to Turnitin before posting to assignment link.  

Resource Materials

Hofstede Cultural Dimensions website:  http://geert-hofstede.com/countries.html 

from LEO Course Content links:  

·      Weekly Lecture Notes on Change

Also helpful:

·      Adler Chapter 5 (Multi-cultural teams) and Chapter 4 (Synergy)

·      Ader, Chapter 9 on Negotiation

You may research additional materials from the UMUC library or the web.

To format the assignment:

1.     Provide a cover page with assignment title, your name, course name, and date submitted.

2.     Copy each of the essay questions and its number onto your file document and then write your answer. 

3.     Add a reference cite for any source materials used.

4.     Pay attention to sequence of sentences within your essay answers.  Write complete sentences. 

5.     Organize sentences of the essay answer into paragraphs.  Write one paragraph per idea.  Remember:  You are likely to have more than one idea per answer, so for most of the questions you will need more than one paragraph per essay.

6.     Check your essay answers for grammar, spelling and punctuation.

7.     Submit to Turnitin, then upload to the designated LEO assignment link.

Questions for Short-Answer Essays to plan for your leadership of a diverse team.

1.     What course theory is helpful to you as background for your management plan?

Identify and then describe a minimum of three (3) theories.  Select one theory from cultural research information such as Hofstede.  Select one theory from Adler (2008) that helps you consider communication in a multicultural team.    Select one theory from Northouse (2013) which suggests a model for leading the team.

Identify the theory using an in-text cite.

Describe or explain the theory idea in 2-4 sentences.

Add a reference cite for any information used from a source.

YES/clearly explained          NO/without sufficient detail of explanation   (15 points)

2.      Complete a cultural analysis using Hofstede.   Develop your answer or analysis as a chart or table.    In that chart identify team members and the cultural distinctions, based on the country of origin, then identify the cultural dimension or category that appears to dominate, or has a very high score.  Identify the cultural dimension or category that appears to have a lower or lowest score.  Base your analysis on Hofstede’s website. See link: http://geert-hofstede.com/countries.html   In a final column, add anecdotes about what you may examine or research from individual team members.  Your goal is to gather cultural information helpful to managing a plan.  While Hofstede’s research provides preliminary topics and a category frame, individuals will have their own priorities and values.  What additional information might you ask team members about their values?

 REMEMBER:  You are a part of the team as its new leader.  Add a row for your culture.

Add a reference cite for use of Hofstede website.

YES/clearly organized         NO/some team member categories skipped  ( 25 points)

3.     Write a plan for action you believe will be effective.  It will showcase your leadership.  In your plan have the following:

·      Identify 1-2 beginning activities and describe your reasons for the actions. For instance, would you ask for an all-staff meeting?  What outcome would you expect?  Would you interview Darius and Harpreet?  What topics would be important to understand?

·      Add a schedule.  In that schedule, identify a vision for the project and how you would communicate the vision.  (See LEO>Course Content Weekly Topic on Change Management, Kotter’s Step Model for a schedule or sequence of activities).

·      List team communication methods you will use as manager.  For example, will you ask for weekly f2f staff meetings, and what are your goals or purpose for them?  Will you use technology for more frequent communication?  How?

·      List deliverables using a general outline.  (NOTE:  An action plan often gets very specific on deliverables, but you have limited information.   You will need to be more generic. For instance, you might organize deliverables as rounds of reports from each team member on his or her progress, and the member’s thoughts of next steps.  How many rounds or reports would you ask for to know performance progress?  One round, three rounds, etc)

·      List your thoughts about ways you will gather information, observe and get feedback as the manager.  Getting the information you need will be challenging.  It will require your leadership. Will you be more directive?  Will you be more of a coach? Will you seek to general lots of energy or use your charisma?   Remember to cite any source used to help you identify your leader role, such as a chapter or idea from Northouse (2013).

·      YES/all items included         NO/or skipped offered too little explanation of a bulleted item  (35 Points)

4.     What are the markers or signals that suggest success in the team’s performance?  Describe in 3-4 sentences. Be innovative about what signals success.  For some, it is a sense of energy in the room as people are talking through their work.  For many, success is good follow-thru—the capacity to meet deliverables on schedule.

YES/clearly explained          NO/without sufficient detail of explanation   (10 points)

5.     What would you do if your plan of action was not moving forward and was at risk?  Consider resources within the organization such as your superior, HR, or a frank discussion with the team.  This is a back-up plan.  Explain the plan and the reason for this approach in 3-4 sentences.

YES/clearly explained          NO/without sufficient detail of explanation   (15 points)

ABOUT SCORING: Grading Rubric

The essay answers will be scored as summary total. Expected range for performance: A score of 80 or above.

• 15% of each answer will be reviewed for logical or sequenced sentence structure and paragraph clarity.  Answers will have correct grammar/spelling or points will be lost.
• 5% meets APA guides for reference cites.