Often when we think of a team we think of teamwork or building something together, but writing as a team can be often challenging and also rewarding. Team work which is a constant thing amongst classmates at the University of Phoenix, it provides individuals with the skills need in the workforce field. But like anything that is done there has to be structure and a guide to doing so, especially when it comes to writing a paper as a team. The following will discuss how a group of individuals work together collaboratively to write as a team.
The science of making teamwork –work when writing together means creating an effective action plan, holding each team member accountable for their roles, communicating to make crucial decisions, and First, both team and individual responsibilities must be divided. Team members should meet to discuss the project requirements and subsequent writing process. Once each of the requirements has been identified, they should be evenly divided amongst the team members.For example, the team can use the writing topic to create investigative questions, which are delegated to each team member for research and drafting.
Then, based upon each person’s level of skill, responsibilities should be assigned to one main and one backup individual. Therefore, if any conflicts arise, the backup person is able to provide additional coverage. In addition to skill, each team member should only accept the tasks they are able to accomplish.For example, the team member responsible for editing and revising the initial draft should not accept the task if they do not have computer access. Once each task has been clearly outlined and assigned, it is the duty of the project manager to “ensure communications among the participating individuals, provide feedback, and make sure individuals are meeting requirements, which impact the final product” (Jones, 2012, May).
When working as a team, responsibilities should be collaboratively divided based upon the scope of work, skill level, and ability; and managed to nsure accountability. After the team divides each role, they must determine the most effective method for executing the writing process. For example, a team may choose to evenly divide all tasks, to pick certain individuals to complete tasks, or to allow the project manager to delegate responsibility. However, during the prewriting phase, team members should meet to discuss the content, purpose, audience, and organization of the paper.
Based on this discussion, the team can create an outline for the drafting phase.This outline is used as the guide for the document’s format, style, and formality. The revision phase should be completed within a time period that allows the team to make further revisions if necessary. The group revision method provides each team member with an opportunity to receive peer feedback and personal refinement. Editing helps teams achieve consistency of the revised text. Finally, the proofreading phase should be completed by each of the team members to ensure the document is free of errors.
While several methods of the collaborative writing process exist, team members must determine the process which works best for them. Working together and making decisions when working together as a team is influenced by several different factors. People have different experiences, values, personalities, and styles; and will often see situations differently. While many of the decisions we make on a daily basis can seem quite simple, making crucial decisions as a team sometimes are not. Consensus decision making is the best strategy when working in a team.
This form of decision making requires that the entire group is involved in the process. This method allows all members an opportunity to equally provide input and opinions. As a team alternatives are discussed and reviewed until they agree on the correct solution. Every team is challenged by the occasional conflict during the course of an assignment, usually steaming from the decision of a topic, writing style because it’s a clash of personality and work ethics. . Reaching agreements as a team can be very difficult if everyone is not committed to achieving the same outcome.
It is important to set expectations when entering into any team assignment. Once every team member clearly understands their responsibilities they must communicate effectively and often. There are several ways a team can share responsibility and write collaboratively in the future, four key terms to remember are forming, storming, norming and performing. Forming is the stage where each team member will express there contribute to the team, as well as introduce the task at hand.
Moving on to storming which is usually the point where individuals begin to have a clash of egos.It is best to recognize as a team a come to a common median to decide as to what is going to take place. For example brainstorming ideas together as one can avoid conflict verses one saying “this is what it is” or this is what “I” want to do. The key term for this is communication. Norming takes place when thing are beginning to take for, in this situation that would be writing of the paper.
Ideas are given, rough drafts are written, and reviews are done; things are forming as team verses individually.Lastly the performing stage shows the results of a team. Everyone has contributed there portion of the assignment, the entire team has reviewed the paper and places there individual comments that the team has come to a median about. And from that a final paper has been written and provided complete satisfaction for the entire team. The team writing process is a productive process because it allows each team member to improve their writing skills outside of what they already know, as well as to work as one whole verses working alone.
Working as a team to write an assignment is highly beneficial and is a technique that should be implemented through all learning techniques. It has been said by many that two heads are better than one; working together may be have its downfalls yet has a very rewarding experience. Over the course of our classes we find that learning teams provide a better knowledge and understanding of a task. When all team members work together as one each individual is able to gain more insight and a better learning experience.
