Issues in Group Dynamics

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Issues in Group Dynamics

Response 1: Challenges Faced in Working in Groups

Because of the nature associated with working in groups, different challenges tend to arise and actually pose a negative effect on efficiency. Personally, I encounter disparate challenges when I work in teams. One of these concerns involves failure to meet deadlines regarding certain tasks. Due to issues regarding the division of labor, at times, I end up assuming a significant amount of activities and obligations that I am required to complete. Additionally, the amount of tasks assigned to me may fail to coincide with the time established for completion and submission of the assignments. Hence, even though it may be beneficial to ask for assistance from some of the members in such situations, other members tend to possess other tasks which they are required to finish prior to the deadline. As such, I am usually left alone to tackle the considerable quantity of assignments given to me.

Response 2: Suggestions for Addressing these Challenges

Certain suggestions can be implemented to address this challenge effectively. Foremost, in order to ensure that a task or an obligation is completed, it would be helpful to confer and establish reasonable timelines that each member of the group agrees with. Usually, conflicts tend to arise within the group especially if the affiliates fail to concur on a specific concern that affects the cohort significantly. Hence, in this respect, an issue such as delaying may impose a negative effect on the group especially if I fail to submit a task or complete an assignment within the stipulated time. It is also important to request each affiliate to provide a progress report during each meeting. These progress reports will convey the tasks or assignments that the members have finished after the last gathering. Consequently, the members can work together to assist in the completion of tasks and obligations if necessary.

Response 3: Challenges Faced in Virtual Teams

Virtual teams are beneficial in today’s organizations and institutions. Their ability to connect people from different regions provides an equal platform for every individual regardless of their location to participate in important group-based activities. However, these teams possess different forms of challenges. Foremost, it is usually difficult to establish trust within virtual teams, specifically in comparison with conventional teams. For virtual groups, trust is a severely limited factor since it needs consistent interaction on a face-to-face basis; a characteristic that such teams eliminate wholly. Consequently, due to lack of face-to-face interactions, it is difficult to engage in team-building activities within virtual teams. Knowledge collaboration is also another challenge within virtual teams. For conventional teams, physical and face-to-face interactions allow members from different positions to exchange information, which may be useful in the generation of ideas. However, the absence of physical interactions limits virtual teams from the exchange of new thoughts considerably.

Response 4: Steps for Addressing These Challenges

Nonetheless, strategies can be implemented in order to address the stated challenges that virtual teams experience effectively. Foremost, ensuring the development of trust within virtual teams is possible via insistence on rapid responses. Virtual team members are capable of building trust if the responses towards electronic communications such as e-mails from other members are delivered effectively and promptly. Secondly, virtual teams can also engage in team-building activities despite it being a significant challenge for them. For instance, team members can invest in the development of core values and group mission statements. These will assist them in setting objectives, simplifying responsibilities, establishing personal relationships, developing group norms, and creating team identity. Lastly, the challenge of knowledge collaboration among virtual teams can be mitigated via the establishment of virtual communication platforms that allow members to brainstorm solutions regarding the problems facing their different locations.