Class Journal Week 9

Mahrad Saeedi

1. What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
   • I look for characteristics different than my own when choosing teammates. If I have a specific expertise or bring something to the table, I would want a versatile group and compensate for my weaknesses by choosing teammates different from myself. The key characteristics in a good teammate is that they are reliable, accountable, and open to critiques and suggestions from others. If every one in the group is on the same page and knows what is going on, then that leads to a more effective work environment.
2. What kinds of things make teams go smoothly?
   • What makes teams go smoothly is hands down organization. If a group is organized and have a schema to how they are going to solve a problem, this usually makes it easier for every one to stay on task and contribute at the same time. Everything is easier with a plan.
3. What kinds of things make teams not go so smoothly?
   • It takes only one person not being accountable for their responsibilities to cause the crumble of a team. Furthermore, bad attitudes and taking criticism personally can lead to bumps in the road when working in a team environment.

Msaeedi23 (talk) 22:44, 2 November 2015 (PST)

Josh Kuroda

1. What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
   • I would want my teammates to be able to communicate effectively, since I have experienced group projects where communication broke down, and we were forced to do extra work, or not finish the project. I would also like my teammates to be committed to the project in terms of showing up for meetings and working on the project outside of class when needed.
2. What kinds of things make teams go smoothly?
   • In my experience, a group project goes smoothly when the teammates are on the same page regarding the goal of the project. Many times, teammates have different visions of what the end product should be, and that results in a less efficient workflow since people try to achieve what they want to complete, instead of working together to make the project what it should be.
3. What kinds of things make teams not go so smoothly?
   • A group that completely lacks communication skills goes horribly, because of the significance of discussion and communication when working on any assignment with more than one person. In these cases, a project will either end up incomplete or all teammates will do extra work because it was not communicated that the work would be split among them. I have found that working on a Google Doc or simply having a group text eliminates the problem of miscommunication, and encourages a more productive working environment.

--Jkuroda (talk) 15:00, 27 October 2015 (PDT)

Kristin Zebrowski

1. What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
   • I think it's very important when working in a team that the team members all bring something different to the table. The strongest teams are ones that have people who think in different ways and have different perspectives and strengths that ultimately make the team stronger as a whole. With that said, I want teammates who are willing to collaborate and are open to and receptive of others' ideas. It's also important that team members are reliable and will show up to meetings with the group.
2. What kinds of things make teams go smoothly?
   • Teams go most smoothly when there is collaboration, and when each team member is willing to pull their own weight in terms of the work load. They also go smoothly when team members communicate effectively about what needs to be done and who will be doing it, as well as what time frame. It makes it much easier for a team to accomplish a goal when expectations are laid out ahead of time.
3. What kinds of things make teams not go so smoothly?
   • Teams do not go smoothly when team members do not communicate or do not show up, both literally and figuratively. I feel like this happens often in teams because everyone always assumes someone else will do it. This just emphasizes the importance of dividing up tasks so each team member knows what is expected. It is also detrimental to a team when team members are not willing to give the time to the project because it is not only his or her grade at stake but everyone else's. Teams also do not work smoothly if team members are unwilling to listen to other team members' ideas or are dead set on doing things one way.

Kzebrows (talk) 15:54, 1 November 2015 (PST)

Jake Woodlee

1. What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
   • Once a baseline of intelligence is reached, which I have no doubt our class possesses, it really just comes down to willingness to work and applying yourself. Also good communications skills per teammate is pretty important.
2. What kinds of things make teams go smoothly?
   • Communication between teammates is vital for a smooth running team. Figuring out who does what work is very important, and comes from communication.
3. What kinds of things make teams not go so smoothly?
   • When people try to free load on other teammates. Also when it is not clear who will do what work it becomes a problem. In my experience, if people are willing to do the work and are somewhat good at it, a team will run smoothly

Jwoodlee (talk) 20:25, 1 November 2015 (PST)

Veronica Pacheco

1. What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
   • I think the best characteristics in teammates are communication, patience and hard working. I think when working in a group it is good to communicate to each other what we are strengths lie and what we can bring to the table. Also, it is important to communicate schedules right off the bat so that we know when we can meet up to get the assignment done. Patience is also I hope for my teammates to have. I am not the fastest when it comes to the computer science aspect of the assignments so it would be nice to work with people who would help or just not mind waiting for me to get my mind around the computer science stuff. Overall, I think we are all pretty hard working in the class because I respective majors require so much hard work that it's what we are used to.
2. What kinds of things make teams go smoothly?
   • Teams go smoothly when they are all on the same page. Once we are all able to meet for the first time to officially discuss the project, I find that things will go a lot smoother when everyone is clear to what they are contributing to the project. When the team agrees to the expectations of one another, its easier to know what each individual has to get done. Also, I think teams run smoothly when schedules align better. Its something we don't really have too much control over but I find when there are more opportunities to meet, the smoother the project goes.
3. What kinds of things make teams not go so smoothly?
   • Things can go bad when teammates are not pulling their own weight. We are all given this big project to work on and I think we need all hands on deck. Its fair to expect that same level of commitment from one another. Also, I think that most problems stem from lack of communication within the group.

Vpachec3 (talk) 22:32, 1 November 2015 (PST)

Mary Alverson

1. What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
   • I would like to have teammates that are positive thinkers. Negativity does not create a fun learning environment! I would also like to have teammates who don't procrastinate. It is one thing to be very busy, but another to put off work that needs to be done (especially when your team is counting on you). Also, it is easier to stay on track if all of your teammates are as well.

1. What kinds of things make teams go smoothly?
   • One of the most important things a team needs is to be able to communicate expectations. Teammates can be held accountable by each other if they are all clear on what they are each individually expected to do. Being flexible/helpful to each other is also important; if someone isn't fulfilling their expectations the teammates should support that person instead of just telling them what they didn't do.

1. What kinds of things make teams not go so smoothly?
   • Teams can fall apart if one person attempts to take on more than they should/can handle. Not communicating or not prioritizing schoolwork can also make things not go smoothly if one or two people in the group are consistently not completing their tasks (and don't have a reason why). One last thing is that the teammates should be comfortable accepting help from each other, and valuing each others opinions. The final product should reflect the group, not just one person. Not accepting help can also be a source of tension.

--Malverso (talk) 13:21, 2 November 2015 (PST)

Lena Olufson

1. What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
   • I would want my teammates to be people that are easy to get along with as well as hardworking and driven to succeed at the assignment. I like to work with teammates who are willing to put in the extra time and effort to make sure the assignment is done well and thought out.
2. What kinds of things make team go smoothly?
   • Teams go smoothly if everyone on the team is cooperative and eager to work with each other and share and listen to each others ideas. It is best to put your minds together to build on each other and then the maximum creativity can be achieved. If everyone puts in their fair share amount of work then no one will have to pick up the slack of someone else.
3. What kinds of things make teams not go smoothly?
   • Teams do not go smoothly if people are rude or mean to one another either openly or behind each others backs. Everyone must have respect for one another because if two people have any sort of disagreement with one another and do not solve it, then the whole group’s cohesiveness will be off. Teams also do not go smoothly if people show up late or are flaky too often, because then not everyone will put in their fair share amount of time.

Lenaolufson (talk) 15:51, 2 November 2015 (PST)

Emily Simso

1. What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
   • I would want my teammates to be dedicated to the project and willing to work together to get the best end result possible. I would hope that they would do their fair share of the work and be available to help other members of the group when needed.
2. What kinds of things make teams go smoothly?
   • Teams work well together when they are able to communicate their ideas and work efficiently. A part of this is creating a timeline at the beginning and setting expectations for the group. Teams also work well when everyone does their part of the work on time. They also have to be able to listen to each other and take others ideas into consideration.
3. What kinds of things make teams not go so smoothly?
   • I think teams end up not working well when members don't communicate with each other or work is not evenly distributed. Groups also need to be accommodating of each others time and schedules and be flexible around other commitments, so when this does not happen, work ends up not getting done, and there is friction in the group. I think groups also need personalities of the members to work well together.

Emilysimso (talk) 17:04, 2 November 2015 (PST)

Brandon Litvak

1. What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
   • I think that a good teammate is someone who is able to organize their work around that of others. Ideally, I would like teammates who are able to communicate and provide valuable input. A good teammate, in my opinion, should be open to suggestions (and should feel free to make suggestions/contributions to the various parts of a project). I also enjoy having teammates that are willing to be a little ambitious with an assignment.
2. What kinds of things make teams go smoothly?
   • I think that good communication is crucial in making any team function properly. A team, in my experience, works the smoothest when the role of each team member is clearly defined; teams also function best when there are frequent meetings that make the progress of an assignment clear. It is also important that each group member is satisfied with the assignment and with their own contribution (it is important that the team works as a “team” and addresses any concerns or issues that a team member brings up).
3. What kinds of things make teams ‘’not’’ go so smoothly?
   • A lack of proper communication and defined roles makes teams function not so smoothly. With poor communication, it becomes difficult to coordinate work between teammates and, thus, the assignment often becomes unnecessarily difficult. A lack of mutual understanding (i.e. a serious disagreement) also makes teams perform poorly; it is important that the group addresses, together, any possible concerns or issues. Dissatisfaction with the group assignment (or even, with the group) is not conducive to a job well done.

Blitvak (talk) 18:08, 2 November 2015 (PST)

Trixie Roque

1. What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
   • I would want my teammates to be able to contribute something to the assignment. It might be too cliche, but there really is no "I" in team, which means that the group should not entrust all the work to one or two members; every member has to be able to do their share of the work and be able to communicate if they feel like the team is heading in the wrong direction. I would also want my teammates to commit to the meeting plan since it could throw off the team's work flow if one member doesn't show up to work on the assignment since it is a group effort.
2. What kinds of things make teams go smoothly?
   • Proper communication definitely makes a team work much more smoothly. Members who are also present when needed are also important since I have had experiences with group members who do not show up at all to meetings when we're supposed to work on the assignment. Each member's parts should be clearly defined before anything could be done (which would require members to meet early to plan things out soon) so that even when there are times when it is really difficult to schedule a meeting, then each can work on their individual sections of the assignment. Team members who are also effective and productive thinkers/workers would also make the work much easier to finish. It wouldn't really be called teamwork if only one person does all the work instead of all members contributing.
3. What kinds of things make teams ‘’not’’ go so smoothly?
   • The assignment tends to feel rushed or incomplete if the members do not commit to the work or show up when they are supposed to. If one member says that they will do the work, but actually doesn't, then the rest of the members will have to adjust and do the parts themselves (and this would often happen near the deadline when the rest of the group realizes that some parts are actually not finished). Also, since it is a group effort, members should be able to listen to the inputs of the entire group and not just themselves. A team will also not work out if only one member decides to lead the group by themselves; it's one thing for members to not contribute, but it's also another to not let the team members contribute. In other words, all team members must be open to each other's opinions instead of only listening to themselves.

--- Troque (talk) 19:45, 2 November 2015 (PST)

Brandon Klein

Reflect on working in teams either in this class or in previous classes.

1. What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
   • I believe that effective teams with positive work environments are created when members are all motivated, punctual, communicative, and willing to compromise. Motivation is one of the most critical characteristics I look for in teammates, as it embodies dedication to the well-being of the project that stimulates all other constructive behaviors. Punctuality is also critical, as the success of a group is contingent on the ability of everyone to work together in person. If individuals are late or absent to team meetings, the group dynamic often begins to deconstruct. Communication is equally as critical for making plans to meet that accommodate everyone and contributing valuable input to the development of the project. Finally, a willingness to compromise is necessary for any group of individuals to function as a team. Teams that compromise are likely to work more quickly and effectively than teams that do not.
2. What kinds of things make teams go smoothly?
   • Teams goes smoothly when the individuals within the group work effectively with one another. The ability to work effectively with others is enabled by many of the characteristics I discussed above. If group members are able to communicate well and compromise when necessary, it is easy to schedule group meetings and develop a team vision of what the final product of how the project should look. If group members further are punctual, this ensures that everyone actually shows up to the scheduled meetings. In general, teams I have been on where everyone is punctual and attends each group meeting are successful. Finally, investment in the final quality of the project by the team members is key to team work going well. Although some individuals unavoidably end up spending more time on the project than other (it is best that this is as balanced as possible), the project will always be completed well if the entire group is dedicated to producing a quality final product.
3. What kinds of things make teams not go so smoothly?
   • Unfortunately, I have been in many groups that have experienced serious breakdowns. The most common reason for issues with group projects in my experience is when individuals do not consistently attend scheduled meetings. Although most group members you find at this level of academia are able to communicate well and compromise, not everyone is punctual. When this happens, the work flow of the group is thrown off, regardless of whether the individual in question actually makes an effort to make up the lost work time later. Team work requires everyone in the team to spend time advancing the project as a group; it's as simple as that. Beyond this, I have also experienced issues with variable investment in the project. Particularly, I have encountered some individuals (e.g. seniors preparing to graduate) that have lost interest in the quality of work they submit. Although these individuals may show up to meetings, the lack of dedication means that they are often unwillingly to put the amount of work to get the group project to a high standard of quality. Thus, a breakdown in time investment often happens. This issue may be the most common, and it often results in late or lower than desired project quality. A group project is assigned to a team for a reason, and it is not constructive for it to be completed by one or two team members alone.

-- Bklein7 (talk) 20:33, 2 November 2015 (PST)

Anu Varshneya

• What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
  • Good communication is an important characteristic that I look for in good teammates. Communication is necessary for group members to successfully delegate assignments and prevent any one person from having to do significantly more work than others. Furthermore, I look for teammates that are committed to the success of our project. My favorite group projects were the ones where everyone I was working with was equally committed to making our project the best which allowed all of us to enjoy completing the project without stressing out. I also look for teammates that are flexible and willing to hear other ideas and collaborate.
• What kinds of things make teams go smoothly?
  • Teams go smoothly when everyone participates and completes the part of the project that they commit to. It is important for each team member to communicate their progress as well as any complications they may have run into so that others in the team can understand the project well and contribute so that no one person is stuck doing all of the difficult work. Teams also go smoothly when everyone has a generally good attitude about the project, and doesn't get too upset or uninvolved when things don't go perfectly.
• What kinds of things make teams not go so smoothly?
  • Teams do not go smoothly when some members are less involved or less committed than others. Teams also do not go well when team members have a bad attitude or are unwilling to listen to the ideas of others. The biggest contributing factor to teams that don't go well are teams that do not communicate well. The best way to prevent any of these potential issues from materializing in a group project is to have a group text (iMessage, GroupMe, or Facebook work!) so that each member can update the team with ease. It is also helpful to create a general plan for what work needs to get done at what point, as well as delegate who is responsible for seeing that part of the project through. This helps everyone be responsible for the project and stay involved without too much work falling on one person.

--Anuvarsh (talk) 21:50, 2 November 2015 (PST)

Erich Yanoschik

1. What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
   • Teammates who can communicate effectively and thoroughly are highly desirable. Someone who can take criticism and keep moving forward towards the goal of the project. Teammates who work together and make compromises or aren't worried about throwing their suggestions out to improve the project. Trust is a huge part that can make or break the team dynamic and lack of trust can lead to divisions within the team.
2. What kinds of things make teams go smoothly?
   • Very similar to characteristics desired in teammates, what makes teams work smoothly is good communication and compromise. Not everything can go the way one person wants it to, nor should it. Unless the rest of the team is dead wrong. That's typically not the case, but there are ways to compromise and get what both parties want or believe to be best for the project.
3. What kinds of things make teams not go so smoothly?
   • Anything that causes a divide among teammates such as bad communication or subtle jabs at another teammates ideas. Neither is productive towards the end goal of producing a viable product. Sometimes people take it upon themselves to do everything instead of sharing or delegating the workload.

--Eyanosch (talk) 22:04, 2 November 2015 (PST)

Kevin Wyllie

1. What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
   • The most important thing for me is communication. I prefer teammates who put a lot of effort into making sure that they are understood and that they understand others. I also think that a good attitude is helpful. Frustration is natural and we all get discouraged sometimes, but having the ability to at least step back and laugh off your frustration is really valuable.
2. What kinds of things make teams go smoothly?
   • Sticking to a schedule. This kind of loops back to the previous question, but team members who know how to organize their time will be more likely to succeed. I also think that different people have different roles in a group setting. There are the coordinators who plan how each person's contribution will ultimately come together, the organizers who do things like keep notes and such, the includers who make sure everyone's voice is being heard, the creator who can solve problems in unique ways, etc. I should mention that I don't think these are voluntary roles; some people are just predisposed to certain habits. An efficient group is one that is diverse in terms of these personality types.
3. What kinds of things make teams not go so smoothly?
   • One problem I've observed many times in group projects is that the members of a group will, over time, begin to value another member's input less and less. Eventually, they will disregard this person's ideas, which ultimately discourages participation. Another prevalent issue in group projects is fairness in workload. If some members of a group feel that another member isn't putting in as much effort, this will hurt the group cohesion.

Kwyllie (talk) 14:44, 3 November 2015 (PST)

Ron Legaspi

1. What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
   • In terms of characteristics that I want in my teammates, I look for individuals that have strengths in areas that I have weaknesses. For instance, I am more of a follower than a leader; thus, I look for at least one or two teammates that take initiative and are able to organize the team, but are willing to take input when the team needs it. In addition, I feel that teammates must share a common purpose because establishing an end goal or milestone goals helps with motivation and keeping people to tasks. Also, I find myself comfortable with teammates who communicate with one another and not just about school, but are open to stepback from the "busy work" and get to know each other.
2. What kinds of things make teams go smoothly?
   • Other than the main attributes of organization and communication, the one thing that makes a team go smoothly is cooperation. Everyone should be open with one another if someone is struggling to keep up or to finish tasks when need. Cooperating with one another means taking what has been organized and understanding that their has to be open communication. As the cliché goes, "you're only as strong as your weakest link." Thus, by cooperating, you end up figuring out ways to eliminate problems that arise through working on a group project.
3. What kinds of things make teams not go so smoothly?
   • To reinforce my answer to the previous question, I feel that what makes a team not go so smoothly is the inability to cooperate; therefore, conflict or controversy between individuals ends up causing the most destruction in a team setting. Conflict and controversy will arise when putting different minds and attitudes together, but not having an open dialogue or not compromising with one another to reorganize each other will result in roadblocks that prevent progress.

Nicole Anguiano

1. What kinds of characteristics do you want in your teammates?
   • I want teammates that are hardworking and dedicated to making a good project. I also greatly prefer if my teammates are skilled in areas that I am not, since it makes for a more well-rounded team at the onset. Additionally, I want teammates that are willing to openly communicate about their progress and any challenges they may be facing in the project.
2. What kinds of things make teams go smoothly?
   • I believe the number one thing that makes a smooth team is communication, followed shortly behind by hard work. A team without communication will have a lot of difficulty keeping track of what is being done. Communication can also help to avoid or work around issues that arise, as it allows all members of the team to have input on a problem. Hard work is necessary to ensure that everything gets done on time and with high quality.
3. What kinds of things make teams not go so smoothly?
   • A lack of communication and procrastination can be very detrimental to a team. It is very important for a team to stay in contact with one another so that everyone knows what everyone else is doing, as well as their progress. If a team member gets stuck on their work and doesn't communicate it, it can drag the whole team down. Additionally, if a team member or the whole team is procrastinating, it can lead to a decrease in the quality of the work done by the team.

Nanguiano (talk) 20:21, 15 September 2016 (PDT)