Katie Byers

10/31/2021
OGL 300-89887
Mod 2: Team Activity Report

1. The eight characteristics of team excellence are clear, elevating goal, results-driven
structure, competent team members, unified commitment, collaborative climate,
standards of excellence, external support and recognition, and principled leaders.
Which of the eight characteristics of team excellence are lacking in this team?

After reading Case Study 16.2, it seemed the steps were in place to set the team up

for success. Dr. Sulgrave, the university president, gave Kim Green and the

committee its goal of planning the mission of Northcoast University for the next

twenty years. Kim Green from the Management Department, chair of the committee,

enlisted 11 qualified staff from across campus, including members of the faculty and

administrators, to participate on the committee. After a short period of committee

attendance, cooperation and collaboration, it became apparent that they lacked several

of the eight characteristics of team excellence.

First and foremost, the team lacked a clear goal as the time frame and the desired

result given were somewhat ambiguous. The team also showed want of unified

commitment, driven structure, a collaborative climate, as external support and

recognition, and participation of their principled leaders waned. Dr. Sulgrave, had

charged the team with coming up with a vision for the future of the University; he

didn’t, however, outline what was expected of this committee. Though there were

competent team members that were initially excited about the project, the message

eventually got lost in a mess of different ideas and arguments over the process and

result, and the driven structure and collaborative climate that had started out began to

break down. Everyone gave up when they couldn’t come to an agreement. Neither
 Katie Byers
10/31/2021
OGL 300-89887
Ms. Green, nor Dr. Sulgrave followed through on the project nor the team that

abandoned it.

2. How would you assess Green as a leader?

Green appears to be somewhat inexperienced leading a team of colleagues. The

committee started out strong, but because Green did not add to collaboration in any

way, nor did she intervene when people began to argue the team experienced further

break down, eventually abandoning the project. Had she clarified with Dr. Sulgrave

prior to the committee’s first meeting what was expected of each team member, as

well as having a clear goal in place for the team to work toward, the challenges the

team faced could have been avoided. In addition, the team could have used

encouragement and recognition as the project began to take shape with the faculty’s

research and ideas keeping everyone on task. Because there was no feedback from the

team “leaders”, it likely gave the impression that the project was unimportant and no

longer required the members attention, time, and participation.

3. What actions would you take (internally or externally) if you were the leader of this
task force?  

My initial strategy for the group would be to maintain the structure and standards of

the committee meetings. Attendance and clear-cut goals for each would be required

for each committee member. Team Minutes would be maintained to organize

progress and results toward each goal. In addition, each committee member would

have their own time to speak and share their research findings and ideas with the

team, and each would receive recognition for their collaborative efforts reinforcing

unified commitment. Productive discourse would be encouraged, but arguments and

 Katie Byers
10/31/2021
OGL 300-89887
negative attitudes would not be tolerated. If there were any deviation from course or

questions regarding Dr. Sulgrave’s vision, he would be consulted, or his assistant if

he were indisposed with another campus matter, to ensure target results are reached.