Professional blog

Q1) 

In Chapter 6, authors Mackey and Sisodia (2014) describe their experiences in promoting teamwork at Whole Foods Market.(please see attached word doc for Chapter 6 over view)

For your initial post this week, think of a team situation in which you were either a member or otherwise involved.  Using that team situation as your mini case study, describe the team, the context, and the goals or objectives of the team.  Develop your post by offering your analysis of whether the team was effective or not, and why or why not.  Address whether the team members were extrinsically or intrinsically motivated.  Finally, if you were to join another team in the near future, what lessons or aspects from your case study team would you take to the new team?

Q2)Please reply 1-2 paragraphs for the below 2 posts given by classmates

Post 1: Taylor

I am checking in at a +2. I feel grateful, appreciative, and optimistic for where I am and where I will be going. 

Last summer at one of my jobs, three employees were going to be promoted. I thought I had always done a good job and was a responsible employee however, I wasn’t sure if I wanted more responsibility I was content with where I was. The manager narrowed the selection down to four employees and eventually decided which three to promote. I was thankfully one of the three. However, this caused some conflict because I hadn’t been working at the business as long as many of the other employees. One in particular was very upset by my manager’s decision. She thought she was more qualified because she was older and had more experience than me. My manager stood by her decision confidently. I was then a part of the management team. This team had more responsibilities than the lower-level employees but the compensation was also more. The goals of this team were to make things run more efficiently, organization, communication, and train new employees. I do think our team is effective. Summertime is our busy season so we will have to kick it into gear and pick up the slack we put down during the winter. However, I think since our promotion things have run smoother, things are more organized, and the manager has been able to pass some of her many responsibilities on to us. For the most part, the team is extrinsically motivated. I think this is part of the problem with our motivation and participation. Some of us pick up more responsibilities than others and are still getting the same compensation. However, there are intrinsic motivators that come with the team as well. If I were to join a team in the near future I would make intrinsic motivation a priority. I would also bring transparency, trust, and cohesion. 

Post 2: Dawson

I am checking in with a +2. My lacrosse season is coming to an end, but this will allow me more free time and be able to get back in the gym full time. 

I think my time being at Ambrose and being a part of the lacrosse team is a great example of being on a team. Because though the 5 years no two teams have been the same. The team I want to talk about is my team last year. This team was led by me and my roomates as we were seniors as well as starters for the majority of our time at Ambrose. We had just come off a season of very high expectations and did not meet any of our goals even though we started off looking like we would achieve those. Coming into the season we had the same goals as last year with winning the conference and making the national tournament. although it looked hard to achieve due to many obstacles we had to overcome. Such as our two best players going down with injuries one would be season ending and the other would keep them out for half the season. Our season did not start off how we expected it too at all and looked like we wouldn’t meet our goals again. But we were able to persevere and meet them. Two of the most important things I learned from this team that I would take to another team is patience and embracing a new and unexpected role. Patience in the sense that some things take time to develop and have the opportunity to be successful if given the time and energy. Embracing a new and unexpected role is something I learned from my teammate who had the season ending injury. He stepped up and helped coach and was a major reason why we were able to do what we did. He showed that you can still help the team in ways not as planned or expected.