BC 380: Team Communication

Overview

The increasing realization that teamwork is an essential part of our existence — at work, in our communities and within our family units - can be seen in the number of books, articles, radio talk shows, movies, and television reality series that address communication and teamwork. While most of us have had some experience on a team, there is still much we have to learn about working effectively together in teams. This course focuses on teams and the dynamics, especially communication, that help teams achieve their goals.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Examine your own level of intellectual and emotional flexibility and capacity for collaborating in a team environment.
• Distinguish between the different types of teams and how they serve organizational interests.
• Design a team charter by defining its purpose, scope, deliverables, measures and resources.
• Apply positive practices for team communications (meetings, decision making and record keeping) to a team setting.
• Assess if a team characterizes the positive elements in order to be considered an effective team.
• Evaluate and implement a variety of strategies for improving team communication and performance; select those most appropriate.
• Demonstrate the use of constructive feedback as a communication tool in team settings.
• Recognize and label team development stages by the actions occurring.
• Consider cultural differences and their impact on the effectiveness of workplace and virtual teams.
• Distinguish between the responses team members may have to conflict and identify solution strategies.
• Demonstrate an understanding of team building concepts through the development of team based assignments.

Required Texts
BC 380 texts are available from the JIU/MBS bookstore