Team challenges - Essay Example

The five students encounter difficulties in establishing the topic of discussion and eventually settle on conflict management. As the team progresses, there is lack of cooperation by some members while the active members exhibit divergent views, which are not resolved to the end of the preparations for presentation. The paper highlights the strengths and weaknesses displayed by each character as well as some ideas that could improve their input to the project. It also evaluates the performance of the team as well as the impact of a newcomer to the team.

Actions that would help in improving the team’s success have been highlighted. The strengths and weaknesses of the 5 students can be described through Belbin’s group roles whereby Robert can be regarded as the plant. He had a strength that is evident when he takes courage to convince the group regarding his creative idea of role play in conflict resolution. He is a self starter who is imaginative and focused towards accomplishing the goal. He is also able to defend his decision as well as influence others to adopt it.

His creativity makes Jane to be supportive in generating humour and making the play to be amusing to the audience. He acts as a coordinator as well as the shaper of the group. In the Kolb’s Learning Cycle, Robert fits in the converging learning style (Miettinen, 2000). He prefers practical actions in approaching the group discussion. As a shaper in Belbin’s group roles, Robert’s major weakness is his confrontational behaviour towards Danny who is ignorant and uncooperative, especially bearing in mind that the discussion is on conflict resolution.

In essence, he demonstrated lack of skills in conflict resolution and team building. On the other hand, he was dictatorial as regards the group’s activities. He has an egoistic personality, which leads him to compel other group members to accept his decision, which Sharon was greatly opposed