Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Frank's Communication Skills

Discuss how your communication skills have played a positive role in your project and/or impacted your group experience in a positive way.

Communication occurs within our group on a regular basis, but only when there is a purpose. We communicate both formally and informally. We've all exchanged phone numbers and become friends on the social networking site, Facebook. Besides seeing each other in class and at our group meetings, most communication is done electronically. Because there is no hierarchy of command within our team, and each of us is on the same level, we are demonstrating Lateral Communication.

Frank's Motivation

Discuss how motivation has played a positive role in your project and/or impacted your group experience in a positive way.

Robbins and Judge describe motivation as the processes that account for an individuals intensity, direction, and persistence of effort toward attaining a goal. (Page 175)

This concept has impacted our group project in a positive way for multiple reasons. Each of us is motivated to achieve a decent grade in the course. Working hard on this project will help us attain that goal. It goes without saying that all group members are motivated by the idea of cheaper textbooks. According to Douglas McGregor, our team would be labeled a Theory Y group of students. We all enjoy working together, are creative, seek responsibility, and have exercised self-direction through individual performance.

Frank's Perceptions and Decision-Making Processes

Discuss how perceptions and decision‐making processes have played a positive role in your project and/or impacted your group experience in a positive way.

All of our group members perceive the current book buying program here at UW-Milwaukee to be too costly and unnecessary. Sharing the same attitudes, motives, interests, experiences, and expectations has allowed our team to form a consensus and bypass any conflicts. Each member of our team has attempted to validate this perception by conducting research and interviews on the basis of finding an alternative books program.

Decision-making processes arise whenever there are problems. The problem in this instance is the rising cost of textbooks. Sharing similar perceptions has really simplified the decision-making process for our group as a whole, as well as for individual members. The rational decision making process used by our team is important because it encourages consistency and value-maximizing choices.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Nathan's Communication

So communication is the glue that holds the group together right? We're all pretty good at talking to each other. Me personally, I make sure that I listen and that I do what's expected of me. While doing that I make sure that I give feedback on the rest of the group's part. While I'm working on my tasks I let the group know what I'm doing and how I'm doing it. After I'm finished I would like to receive feedback on my work. Communication will be need to make this group, and any group, work.

Nathan's Motivation

Alright. So basically my motivation in this project is the grade right? The most basic of the basic. I'd like to pass this class! However there's more to it than just that motivating factor. I'm motivated here because it's a personal vendetta to give my team what it needs from me. Working as a team and doing the best that I can for my peers is my main motivation in this group.

Caitlin's Communication Blog

My communication skills have impacted my group in a positive way because I'm good at explaining myself and the issues I'm having with the project. If I don't like the path our project is going down, I speak up and share my thoughts. Although I speak up, I don't do so in a negative sense that would cause arguments. Because of my positive communication skills, I've impacted this group in a positive way.

Jason's Communication Skills

Our communication skills have allowed us to stay current on what each member is doing as well as assigning new tasks. It has been a positive experience because all member have been easy to contact and willing to respond. It has enabled us to keep working on our project even when we are not all together.