Final Reflection on Teamwork and Communication

At the start of the CG1413 module, I attended the course expecting to study communication theories while writing reports based on case studies. Over the course of 13 weeks however, we explored communication, teamwork and presentation skills via 2 projects and reflected on our strengths and weaknesses in weekly blogs. During this process, we learnt and employed good communication practices in writing, group discussions and even through public speaking.

In the CG1413 project, my group decided to tackle the issue “There is a lack of awareness of the impact of diet on Global Warming”. As the topic of diet change and Global Warming was a rather controversial one, I was surprised that no one had any strong objections regarding the project. Through this, I learned that being open to suggestions and new ideas is an important in good communication.

As the group openly accepted new ideas and suggestions, we were able to come up with several solutions to our proposed topic and effectively evaluate their feasibility. These solutions included the Facebook group proposed by Duy, posters and food exhibit by Geetika. While only the Facebook group and posters were implemented in our project, we were able to discuss many other solutions as everyone was comfortable giving feedback knowing they would be given serious consideration.

Contributing and taking constructive feedback is an important skill in communication. This was apparent when I was trying to compile our slides in preparation of the presentation. With the amount of time and effort put into our project, summing up the various aspects was proving to be a trying task. The initial order caused repetition in the survey, analysis and project evaluation. However, feedback from Duy and Michael allowed us to remove redundancies from each section while Duc helped focus the evaluation on the results of the project.

During a dry run, feedback about confusing messages the slides presented was helpful in improving the final presentation. Confusion regarding scattered points I highlighted was brought up by the test audience. While I wanted to draw attention to the specified points, the fact that it confused the audiences meant that it was ineffective communication. Thus, changes were made to improve the flow of presentation as well as to better communicate its intention to the audience. Hence it is important to take constructive feedback critically as it is often an indicator of effective or ineffective communication.

How to give Positive/Negative feedback:

http://management.about.com/cs/peoplemanagement/ht/positivefb.htmhttp://management.about.com/cs/peoplemanagement/ht/negativefb.htm

During our Cg1102 project, we were required to assimilate new ideas from our lectures and implement them in our project. As we each had our own learning pace, we were sometimes unable to evaluate a solution effectively due to a lack of familiarity in a given topic.

While discussing a solution to one of the Lab tasks, I was unable to grasp the solution proposed by our group leader Russell. As we had to process a number of jobs in batches, he had suggested using a Stack of Queues to determine the order of the jobs. Unfamiliar with the topic, I was unable to visualize his solution and had problems understanding it. While I was initially uncomfortable questioning others, we had the good habit of asking questions to verify what each was saying, I was now comfortable asking him to explain his concept in greater detail. We even resorted to visual representation to ensure that the proposed solution was well understood.

Why should you listen & how you should listen:

http://careerplanning.about.com/cs/miscskills/a/listening_skill.htm

Throughout the course, I learned 3 important aspects of communication that aided in better communication, teamwork and even oral presentation. The ability to take constructive feedback by listening carefully to what others are saying allows us to improve ourselves while avoiding or resolving unnecessary conflicts. Learning to give constructive feedback allows us to work more efficiently without causing misunderstanding or conflicts. Asking questions to gain a better understanding may allow us to gain new knowledge or simply avoid miscommunications and conflicts.

So it seems that good communication can be achieved by remembering to “Listen attentively and speak frugally”.

Be Veg . Go Green . Save the Planet .

For more information regarding climate change please visit:

http://suprememastertelevision.com/SOS/

CG1413 Oral Presentation

Thursday 25^th March was the concluding Oral Presentation of our CG 1413 problem solving project. For the Presentation, each member presented an aspect of the project from identifying the problem to evaluating the proposed solution. The following are the criteria for an effective oral presentation used to help evaluate the presentation:

Projection

Articulation

Pitch

Timing

Gesture

Posture

Visual

contact

Interactivity

As the tutorial room was a small one, the audience could easily hear and follow the presentation. During the presentation however, certain parts (while providing additional details) tended to be softer. While this may not affect the overall presentation, it may suggest a lack of familiarity or confidence with the information presented. In such small settings, it would also be prudent to take into consideration the proximity of one’s audience. Over projecting one’s voice may be off-putting to the audience and even affect their ability to understand the information presented.

Articulation was clear as most of the presentation could be easily understood while some minor slipups occurred during the presentation, they were quickly corrected. While there was adequate variation in pitch, more emphasis when posing questions would help to better engage the audience.

The timing and pace of speech was generally consistent and there were appropriate pauses during the presentation. The tendency to increase pace while reciting details should be avoided while including longer pauses between different points to differentiate them. While there has been an improvement in pace, slowing the pace further would allow the audience to absorb the information presented and enhances the overall presentation.

Appropriate gesturing was used to emphasise important points as well as direct attention to the slides. A neutral posture and good eye contact also help maintain the audience’s interest without becoming too distracting.

There were attempts to improve interactivity by posing questions to the audience, however more could have been done to involve the audience in the topics presented. For example, using humorous pictures or inviting the audience to participate in the project as demonstrated by the other members could improve audience involvement and hence interest in both the presentation as well as the subject presented.

While the presentation met most of the criteria used to evaluate this presentation, more could have been done to further engage the audience to help them emphasise with the subject. It is important to remember when giving a presentation that its purpose is to inform/educate audience. Therefore it should be presented in a manner that is both engaging and interactive so that the audience is able to relate to the subject and take an interest in it. Some of these skills have been demonstrated by the other group members who sought to actively engage and involve the audience in their presentations. Hence it is important that a presentation provides its audience with information as well as a reason to be invested in the subject.

Listed below are some sites that provide a quick guide to giving a good Oral Presentation:

http://www.lrc.centennialcollege.ca/tutorserv/Presentations/Presentation%20Skills.htm

http://pages.cs.wisc.edu/~markhill/conference-talk.html

http://www.walkingpaper.org/695

Be Veg . Go Green . Save the Planet .

For more information regarding climate change please visit:

http://suprememastertelevision.com/SOS/

On Monday 8^th march, our group met once again to discuss the CG1102 project. The agenda this time was to decide on an important implementation to be included in our project. This new function that was to be added would change the way data was stored in the project and hence affect the way future additions were to be programmed. The next item in the agenda was the discussion of the lab report to be submitted. As this was dependent on the first decision, we proceeded to weigh the consequence of implementing a sorted list.

We considered the various sorting methods available such as insertions sort, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insertion_sort or to utilize a brute force approach which relied on the computer’s processing capability with simple algorithms. Also considered was the time in which we had to implement this new function. As the lab was due on Wednesday, we decided that it was not a feasible option due to a heavy schedule the following day which would leave little time for the project. Hence, we the implementation was to be done the next lab.

Next, we approached the questions posed by the lab report. These questions asked the advantages of using 2 different types of data structure. We realised that to properly answer the questions, a sorted list would be required. Here, we had to revert to our discussion about implementing a sorted list. The group members were effective communicators in this meeting, able to clearly explain their ideas or to verify their understanding of the concepts proposed. However, better preparation would have prevented or minimized the above mentioned situation. Had we been more familiar with the lab report, the questions posed and its implications, it would have been included in the discussion of using a sorted list. This would have improved the efficiency of the meeting and conclude it within the 20 minutes allotted. Upon reflection, I felt that if I had a better grasp of sorting functions, I would not have had to clarify as many concepts and be better able to help resolve the issues of implementing a sorting function. A better understanding of the topic discussed would also include the methods available and the implications of their implementation. Lack of familiarity in this regard however was due to the fact that the topic had not yet been covered in the lectures.

We continued the discussion after the meeting and having better understood the issues were able to come to a decision.

It is important that an agenda is set for each meeting; however its participants should also be thoroughly prepared and hence better able to understand and contribute to the issues discussed. A better understanding of the subject makes for a more effective and efficient meeting since basic concepts are well understood and can be built upon to resolve the issues.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/356351/Guide-to-Good-Meetings-Practice

Be Veg . Go Green . Save the Planet .

For more information regarding climate change please visit:

http://suprememastertelevision.com/SOS/

First Group Meeting

Last Wednesday, my group C05 and I had our first CG1102 project meeting. We convened in the computer lab first to clarify the task requirements and to seek the advice from our lab assistant. Next, we found an empty tutorial room and proceeded to conduct our meeting and recording.

The meeting proceeded smoothly and we discussed our approach to solving the task as well as the various details related to its implementation. There were no major conflicts throughout the discussion however; further clarification was required at certain points to help us better understand what our teammates were trying to say. One such occurrence happened while we were discussing the method in which to implement the UI or user interface.

The user interface we had to create would allow users make selections via a menu. The input received would then determine the function to be executed or the sub menu to be displayed. My concern was that while the main menu dictated that choices were limited to the numbers 1 to 5, other sub menu may require user input of different datatypes.

I was under the impression that a separate function would be required to handle the different datatypes. However our group leader Russell had intended to create different sub menus that could then handle its specific input datatype. At this point we tried to reconcile our different approaches by first understanding each other’s methods as well as the rationale behind them.

While I first had difficulty trying to explain my concern regarding his implementation, by listening carefully to his explanation and trying to visualize his concept, I was better able to understand his approach. Having reviewed the recording of our interaction, I now see that I was still unable to fully grasp what he meant as I was too focused on my suggestion as well as the perceived “flaw”. We then compromised and decided to first adopt a simple case scenario and assume his implementation would suffice. During a second meet up, we were able to discuss the issue again and this time, having already accepted his solution, I was better able to understand it and come to see that it would work despite my initial reservations.

It is interesting to see that our behaviour during the meeting was somewhat different and perhaps a little self-conscious due to the presence of the camera. However as the meeting progressed, we were absorbed by the work at hand and soon forgot about the camera. I was later told that they were slightly uncomfortable having to be recorded as they felt pressurised to adopt better communication practices during discussion. While I fully understand the desire to present a better image and also the merits of trying to put good communication practices to use, I wonder if the effectiveness of the exercise might be reduced by doing so intentionally.

Be Veg . Go Green . Save the Planet .

For more information regarding climate change please visit:

http://suprememastertelevision.com/SOS/

Resolving interpersonal conflict

Conflicts are an ever-present part of our lives, and they range from minor conflicts (difference in opinion between people) to major conflicts (disagreement over scare resources between nations). Wilmot and Hocker (2007) describe conflict as "an expressed struggle between at least two interdependent parties who perceive incompatible goals, scarce resources, and interference from others in achieving their goals"

Interpersonal conflicts are conflicts that occur between people. While such conflict may occur naturally (people working for rival teams or companies), often, these conflicts arise from miscommunication or failure to communicate. Therefore it is important to employ good communication practices to avoid unnecessary conflicts and to resolve existing ones.

While working to set up the Food4Thought Vegan snack stand (yes, again...) miscommunication resulted in several minor conflicts between the committee we were working with. These conflicts while minor had the potential to harm relations between the two parties and affect our ability to work together.

One such conflict was with regards to the budget being allocated to the project. One of our requests was to have an amount set aside to cover the purchase of food items (should we be unable to sell all the items). This however, was perceived as a request to fund the purchase on a weekly basis.

As there were several projects running concurrently, the committee was concerned that this would put a considerable strain on resources. While the discussion did get a little heated, we continued in order to find a common ground. I then tried conveying the rationale behind the request as well as explaining what the desired outcome would be. We then realised that a compromise was possible. Hence, a reduced budget that included the requested fund was agreed upon and we concluded the meeting.

I was grateful and appreciative for their support and thanked them it. They seemed receptive and we left on an amiable note. Members of the committee even lent their support by patronising the stall once we were in operation. Hence, we were able to resolve the conflict without straining our relationship.

Through this experience I learnt that often, taking time to understand a conflict from the other side will present a clearer perspective of the problem as well as introduce solutions to the problem. Also, in conflict resolution, it is not only communication but the willingness to communicate that is vital in resolving the conflict.

Be Veg . Go Green . Save the Planet .

For more information regarding climate change please visit:

http://suprememastertelevision.com/SOS/

observation and team behavior, of teamwork in class, intercultural and interpersonal communication

As the world moves towards globalization, businesses and companies span across many different countries. As such, companies and their employees have to work with people of different cultures and backgrounds. In such a cosmopolitan setting, good intercultural and interpersonal skill is a vital skill.

Locally, foreign talents have become an important part of our economy and foreign co-workers are a common phenomenon. Even educational institutes play host to students from around the globe of which NUS has exemplified.

As mentioned, due to the influx of foreign talents in our society, intercultural communication is of vital importance. However, the definition of intercultural interaction is not limited to those who hail from different countries and backgrounds but include people who live in different environments. For example, working in marketing requires preparations to be completed early as many of their projects are sequences of interrelated events that require good ground work early on. However, engineers may face a situation where projects often have last minute request or alterations that result in last minute work. When these two cultures meet or collaborate, good intercultural communication is essential to avoid conflicts and aid in the completion of mutual goals.

While working on the 2^nd CG1108 lab with 2 other students, I found that interpersonal skills as well as intercultural communications were applicable even in the most mundane situations. Tasked to build a line tracking robot with a LEGO Mindstorm kit, the 3 of us quickly divided the workload so as to maximise efficiency.

However halfway through, we were informed that the instructional manual was incomplete and that we had to follow another set that was made available. This occurred yet another time and since we had progress pretty far in the first, each setback was had major consequences. The result of these inconveniences was that we lack both the time and parts to complete the required robot.

It is interesting to note here that there were 2 different opinions on how to proceed. One, that we restart the build, using the manual that was provided or two, improvise to obtain the desired result.

While I must admit, there was a little tension as time was running short, no one in the group reacted negatively by raising their voice or insisting on which method to employ. The pros and cons of the two methods were analyzed and discussed, we then decided no improvisation. With a little bit of improvisation and a lot of luck, we were able to finish the build and complete the task.

Through this experience, I learned that both intercultural and interpersonal skills are applicable at all levels of society. And while I have yet to work with truly different cultures, I believe the skills taught in this course will aid me in connecting with people of various cultures.

Be Veg . Go Green . Save the Planet .

For more information regarding climate change please visit:

http://suprememastertelevision.com/SOS/

Communication and Teamwork - what it means to me

Communication is an undeniable part of our lives. Be it a simple greeting or important presentations, we continuously communicate with those around us. Teamwork, like communication is another important aspect of our lives. We often find that the tasks we do require the aid or expertise of others, hence understanding the dynamics of teamwork can greatly aid our ability to complete any task. Therefore being fluent in communication and having a good grasp of teamwork will certainly enable us to be proficient in our work while maintaining good relations with those around us.

Communication can have a very real impact on our lives. It can affect our ability to understand a situation or to accomplish a task. We often convey our thoughts and intentions through both verbal and non-verbal means. Hence, it is important to be aware of the intentional and unintentional messages we send to avoid miscommunication and more importantly, to be effective communicators.

Being a part of a CCA group, I have found that communicating one’s thoughts or ideas is actually alot harder than it seems. Besides being an integral part of teamwork, being able to properly communicate one’s intention will allow us to make requests and suggest ideas without coming across as being overbearing or arrogant.

This is especially important in teamwork as maintaining a good relationship with one’s peers helps motivate the group to accomplish a goal. It also encourages feedback, which is an important component in any project as it allows for improvement on the current idea.

Lastly, good communication allows us to present criticism in a manner that is acceptable by the person being critiqued. We often find ourselves overly defensive when receiving criticism and overly aggressive when giving critique. There are many methods of giving criticism; most are covered by the various courses in communication available. However, the intent of these methods is the same: to allow one to receive valuable feedback through criticism and to deliver good criticism that is taken is taken seriously.

In conclusion, teamwork and communication is an integral part of our lives and to improve ourselves in either will aid us greatly in our future endeavours.

Be Veg . Go Green . Save the Planet .

For more information regarding climate change please visit:

http://suprememastertelevision.com/SOS/