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Working as a team ObjectivesWhen we first decided to make a company that would sell toast called 'Toasties' we made a list of objectives. We all decided as a group that our main objective was to make a profit, which was going to go to Imperial Cancer Research. This would not be a hard task because of the scale we were working and as none of us are getting paid for our work. Our initial start up costs were £7.7 which left £.1 in the float which means we only have to make anything over £7.7 to cover our running costs and make a profit. Our running costs include materials, packing etc. If 'Toasties' makes a profit after we have taken out our running costs, all of the money goes to charity. We also wanted to give competitive prices compared to our competitors, which were the vending machines just down the hall, and on the sixth and final week a cookie store just outside the entrance near our queue. Another objective we set was to provide good customer service to all of our customers no matter what their attitude towards us. For example if we were serving three spreads and then we carried out a customer questionnaire and, if a different spread that we were not serving came up as the favourite, we would have to look in to providing that particular spread. Also if we had any complaints about the quality of the toast then we would have to look in to giving a refund or replacement piece of toast whichever is preferred by the customer.
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What links the objectives Two of our main objectives were to make a profit and then to donate to cancer research. These two objectives are obviously linked, as we need to make money so that we can donate it to our chosen cause. Making a profit can also be linked to giving good competitive prices. Having competitive prices is more likely to attract customers and therefore more money being spent on the toast. This could help us make a profit after running and start up costs have been covered. Good customer service can link to all of the other objectives in some way. Competitive prices are part of giving a good customer service, making a profit is linked because if people receive a good customer service then they are more likely to come back and spend more money. If we work well as a team then this would create an automatic improvement in customer service. If we work as a team, which was one of our objectives, then this will help us achieve all of the other objectives more quickly and effectively, because by working as a team we can offer a fast and efficient service, which improves customer service and satisfaction. This, therefore, would attract more customers, which would then boost our profits and give us more money to donate to Imperial Cancer Research. If we manage to achieve all of this during our activity then we will have had a very successful team building exercise.We are all looking to work well as a team during this activity to make what we are doing more organised and more productive. The more we work as a team then the more we can learn from this activity. If we work as a team then the quality of the product will be able to provide a good service to our customers. If our customers see good teamwork and continuity amongst the team then they will be impressed and are likely to come back.For our team to be really effective we not only need to concentrate on the practical activities, the content, but also the relationships between team members, group dynamics. Being aware and sensitive to this will avoid problems early on so that we can deal with them. How we work together as a group creates an atmosphere, which creates a positive impression to the customers.One of the best ways of communicating with other team members, to improve relationships, is to stop talking and to listen. We need to pay attention and have a willingness to change our minds.One theory says that all teams are groups but not all groups are teams (Homans, 15). We need to make sure that our group operates as a team. Teamwork is crucial if we are going to meet our goals and objectives. A lack of good teamwork could lead to poor productivity, wasted time and duplicated tasks.Planning We first started organising our team working exercise on the 14th September. This was our first meeting to decide what our enterprise was going to be and after much debate the choice was down to 5-a-side football, making toast, second hand stall and tuck shop. Eventually we all decided on making toast. After this we all had to decide on when and where we were going to sell the toast and prepare it and how we were going to get the start up money for the first week. After a quick discussion we decided that Wednesday break time would be the best time to carry out the activity, with us being able to set up everything in the last 0 mins of Mr Bryett's lesson. To get the required money we all decided to give a £1.00, which would be paid back to us when we make a profit.Resourcesɨ At least toastersɨ 5 loafs a week ɨ Strawberry jam ɨ Orange marmalade ɨ Marmite ɨ Peanut butter ɨ Floraɨ Foil ɨ knives ɨ trays ɨ plates We all agreed on a timetable of who would do what job, to spread out the work evenly. Kirsty devised a timetable for us all to use so that we knew what job we were doing each week. I have attached an example of the timetable for reference.Constraints and potential problems There are quite a few constraints and problems with doing an activity such as this. The constraints are time as we only have one break time a week which only lasts around 0 mins. This is quite a big constraint to our enterprise because you don't get enough time to serve most of the customers, so you get a lot of complaints because after some of the customers have queued for a whole break time they expect some toast. Legislation is also another major problem with an activity when you are making food for sale. We had to check that it was legally possible for us to carry out this activity, which it was. The problems were failure of equipment for example if one of the toasters happened to break then we would be struggling to make enough toast, so to get quality toasters is vital. If the queues get too big, customers could be waiting all break and get no toast. The only way to improve this is to get a more efficient production method. The only other problem is if three or four people are absent, then you would be lacking in manpower to cover all of the jobs, which would make production even slower.Traditional "A" Level courses have tended to promote individual study and research, rather than teamwork. However, the ability to "work with others" is one of the key skills looked for by employees and, increasingly by institutions of higher education.Roles and ResponsibilityFor each role a person takes on in the team needs to take into account individual strengths and weaknesses. Each role demands specific skills and allows for each member to make a positive contribution. Team role theory talks about different specifications1. Chairman, who control the team, setting goals and objectives,. Shaper, who controls the way in which team effort is applied.. Plant, who comes up with new ideas.4. Monitor-evaluator, who analyses problems.5. Company worker, who turns plans into actions.6. Team worker, who supports other member's strengths.7. Resource investigator, who explores and reports on new ideas,8. Completer, who pays attention to detail and ensures mistakes are avoided.We then had to decide the specific roles that we would take on during our team activity;ɨ Marketing Lucy, Daniel and an anonymous girl who didn't want to be mentioned.ɨ Finance Paul and Jenny ɨ Quality Julian and Tomɨ Production Alex, Aime and Kirstyɨ Secretary Emma ɨ Managing Director Julien We had to decide how we were going to perform each of these roles.MarketingMarketing is how we promote and advertise the business and the product that it sells. We carried this out by putting posters with the information on Toasties e.g. prices, location etcFinanceFinance is how is how we keep track of our expenditure and income. We did this by making spread sheets on the computer with all of the transactions made.QualityThe quality staff monitor the standard of product and service that we are providing, by giving the customers questionnaires to carry out and by also doing taste tests.ProductionProduction is how we actually make the toast and ensuring we have everything we need. In Toasties there were three main production staff but each week we would rotate who was working on production.SecretaryThe Secretary keeps the minutes and does administrative duties such as sorting out the agendas with the Managing Director.Managing DirectorThe Managing Director runs the weekly meetings and sets goals and objectives for the staff of Toasties. How can teamwork be more successful?ɨ A common purposeɨ Clear objectivesɨ A good mix of people not everyone can be a leaderɨ Everyone has a meaningful task to doɨ Everyone feels they are contributing to the end productɨ Everyone's ideas and original thoughts are considered seriouslyɨ The team is limited in number so that everyone is involvedMotivational factorsIf asked, most people who work would probably say they do so to earn money and to buy goods and services. However, this is not the only need that is satisfied by working. A list of people's needs that may be satisfied from work might be very long indeed. It could include, for example, the need for variety in the workplace, which may be satisfied in an interesting job. Employees may also need to feel appreciated for the work that they do, which could be reflected to the prestige connected to their job. Individuals have many of their own feelings and ideas. Therefore, it is likely that lists made by any two people of their needs and how they can be satisfied will be very different. There are some reasons for working that could apply for everyone, such as the need to earn to earn money but this did not apply for Toasties as this is an none profit organisation. However, some reasons have more importance for particular individuals than others. One employee may have to work with friendly colleagues, whereas another might be very happy working alone. Why is it important for a business to find out what satisfies the needs of its employees? It is argued that if an individuals needs are not satisfied, then that worker will not be MOTIVATED to work. This can affect the efficiency of a business as a whole for example if somebody could not be bothered to work for Toasties because of a lack of motivation then this could effect the out put of the company. Businesses have found that even if employees are satisfied with pay and conditions at work, they also complain that their employer does not do a goods job in motivating them. This applies at all levels of work from the boardroom to the shop floor this could also apply to Toasties if I as managing director did not do a good job of motivating on the day the we would have struggled. It appears in many companies that employers are not getting their full potential from their employees because they are not satisfying all of their needs at work. Maslows Hierarchy of needsMaslow suggested that 'classes' of needs could be placed into a hierarchy. The hierarchy is normally presented as a 'pyramid', with each level consisting of a certain class of needs. The classes of needs are ɨ Physiological needs, e.g. wages high enough to pay weekly bills;ɨ Safety needs, e.g. job security;ɨ Love and belonging, e.g. working with colleagues that support you at work;ɨ Esteem needs, e.g. being given recognition for doing a job well;ɨ Self-actualisation, e.g. being promoted and given more responsibility. I think that Maslow's theory is the one that applies the best to our Toasties venture as most of its aspects apply to the business than any of the others.Financial rewards have been used for most of this century by firms in an attempt to motivate employees to improve productivity. However, in the last two or three decades firms have realised thatɨ The chance to earn more money may not be an effective motivator;ɨ Financial incentive schemes are difficult to operate;ɨ Individual reward schemes may no longer be effective as production has become more organised in to group tasks rather than individual;ɨ Other factors may be more important in motivating employees. If other factors are more important in motivating workers, it is important for firms to identify them. Only then can a company make sure its workforce is motivated. Here are many of the factors that employees may consider more important in their work environment. ɨ A fair wage for a fair days work; ɨ Chances of promotion; ɨ Holidays and breaks; ɨ Prestige and recognition for achievement; ɨ Security; ɨ Working with friendly colleagues;ɨ Independence;ɨ Chances to take responsibility;ɨ Opportunities to show flair and initiative;ɨ Remaining enthusiastic about work;ɨ A healthy environment; ɨ A sense of achievement;ɨ Interesting and stimulating tasks;ɨ Fringe benefits.Employees may consider introducing non-financial incentives to help employees satisfy these needs.Working in teams The Swedish car firm Volvo is a well-quoted example of a company that has effectively introduced 'teamwork'. In both its plants in Kalmar and Uddevalla, it set up production in teams of 8-10 highly skilled workers. The team decided between themselves how work was to be distributed and how to solve problems that arise. It is arguable weather these practises led to an increase in productivity, but the company firmly believed that this method of organisation was better than an assembly line system. A similar system is used at Honda U.K., but with 4 person teams.Toasties Toasties motivation was largely down to us and could not really be put in to any of the theories. If we didn't want to do the work for ourselves then it wouldn't get done. The main motivators for us, were to keep the teachers off our backs and trying to carry out this project as well as we could. We needed to get as much information as possible together to aid us with our project and also to get as much money as possible for the charity, which was Imperial Cancer Research. Laissez-faire a LAISSEZ-FAIRE leadership style allows employees to carry out activities freely within broad limits. The result is a relaxed atmosphere, but one where there are few guidelines and directions. This can sometimes result in poor productivity and lack of motivation as employees have little incentive to work hard Factors affecting leadership styles.The type of leadership style adopted by managers will depend on various factors.ɨ The task. A certain task may be the result of an emergency, which might need immediate response from a person in authority. The speed of decision needed and action taken may require an authoritarian or autocratic style of leadership.ɨ The tradition of the organisation. A business may develop its own culture, which is an interaction. For example in the public sector leadership is often democratic because of the need to consult with politicians etc. ɨ The type of labour force. A more highly skilled workforce might be most productive when their opinions are sought. Democratic leadership styles may be more appropriate in this case.ɨ The group size. Democratic leadership styles can lead to great confusion the bigger the group is.ɨ The leaders personality. The personality of one manager may be different to one manager and certain leadership styles may suit one and not the other. For example, an aggressive manager is paid to take decision and shoulder responsibilities. If this is the case, then an autocratic leadership style is more likely to lead to affective decision-making.ɨ Time. The time available to complete a task might influence the leadership style adopted. For example, if a project has to be finished quickly, there may be no time for discussion and an autocratic style may be adopted.As Managing Director of Toasties I am the elected leader. One of the tasks I must perform is to hold the group together. I am responsible for; ɨ Ensuring project goals are met;ɨ Ensuring full team effort; ɨ Keeping the team happy and motivated.The most important point for me to remember is that each individual thinks that they are working with the best people, to feel proud to be part of the team. By doing this I will develop a high level of group morale and the team will work harder and achieve more. Toasties is run in a very democratic way as all decisions are discussed during the weekly meetings with the final decision being made by a vote of all team members. But when we are carrying out the making and selling task, then it is a very Laissez-faire style, as we all know what we are supposed to be doing to work as an affective team. Appendix 1The team and individual view of performanceRolePersonal PerformanceTeam PerformanceRating(/5)Week 1Supervisor I enjoyed this task and thought I handled it quite well for the first week, as we were not as well organised as we could have been. The team's performance was very average and lacked order and knowledge. It was however a good learning experience. Week SupervisorI again enjoyed this job and thought it was much easier to handle in the second week because we were much more organised The team pulled together well this week, and worked much better as a unit. The new system we employed worked well and the production was faster. Week Cooking I found this task rather boring and didn't do as much work as I could have done, because it was all very rushed and a bit panicked.The team down to the standards of the first week due to a combination of absent staff and lack of toast production Week 4Selling Instead of actually collecting the money, I gave the toast to the paying customer this week. I enjoyed this more than the task I did last week.More on a par with week two again and the quality of toast was better than ever and the service was much better due to a large amount of toast production. Week 5SpreadingMuch more fast paced and hectic than the other weeks, mainly because of the task which I was doing Due to a lot of absences so less bodies was available for production. However this made the group pull together as team better.Week 6Supervisor The last week I went back to my favourite of all the tasks I had carried out. I thought my partner and I kept everything in very good order, letting 4 people in at a time when the queue went down.This wasn't our best of weeks but it was definitely our busiest with all toast going for 15p no matter what you had on it so we coped well I thought. Please note that this sample paper on Working in Teams is for your review only. In order to eliminate any of the plagiarism issues, it is highly recommended that you do not use it for you own writing purposes. In case you experience difficulties with writing a well structured and accurately composed paper on Working in Teams, we are here to assist you. 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