Reference no: EM132297018

In this assignment you will be leading a small group meeting to solve a problem, make a decision, or build an action plan - or at least take the first step. This is an exercise in participative management so it's a chance for you to see how well you can facilitate a group discussion. That means you (at least for this meeting) aren't giving information or telling them what you think, but instead are looking for their input. For instance, if you decide to pull together a group to help you plan a job search, you might lead them in a discussion of how you could best network, what are the strengths and weaknesses they see in you that you should emphasize or diminish and perhaps give them a copy of a resume and get their feedback.

This doesn't have to be big, and I think it will work better if it's not too big because it can take too long for this class assignment. In fact, you don't need to totally complete the project. For instance, you can agree on the top three vacation possibilities during the meeting and then decide the next steps and who will do them. The outcome of the meeting is the plan for next steps. Presumably, people will work outside the meeting and then come back together to share what they've learned. I don't need the second meeting that does that.

Your group can be from work, school, family, friends, etc. As examples:

1. Solve a Problem
a. Improve a process at work such as handling customer complaints or poor quality parts or service
b. Fix a problem at work
c. Work out a childcare issue to balance school and work
d. Help a friend or child improve their grade in school

2. Make a decision
a. Where to go on the next vacation with family and/or friends
b. Whether to buy a new car or fix the old one
c. Which daycare center to use for childcare
d. What to do after you graduate from CCTC
e. Whether to apply for a job while in school (including parameters such as what type of job, where, how many hours, how will you balance your time, etc.)
f. Which cell phone (or other item) to buy

3. Build an action plan
a. Complete a team assignment at CCTC
b. Balance a family budget and come up with a spending plan for going forward (don't share numbers)
c. Implement a policy or process at work
d. Organize a family picnic or other event
e. Create a job search strategy for finding a job after graduation (including networking, internet research, discussion of strengths and weaknesses and how to present them in the best light, etc.)
f. Create and implement a training program at work

The Process of Leading Teams in Problem Solving

1. Orientation - Establish a framework for why they are there, goals of the meeting, any norms such as (everyone will be heard, all ideas are good ideas) and how the meeting will "work"
a. Written Agenda
b. Introductions (if people don't know each other)
c. Group norms (if needed) - how the meeting will "work"
2. Identifying the Problem - You will present the problem to the group
3. Setting Desired Outcomes or Improvement Targets - This too will probably come from you. What do you want them to accomplish in this meeting
4. Breaking down the problem / Identify the performance gaps
a. Fishbone diagram (see below) - to find root causes
b. Stakeholder analysis - to identify all who will be affected by a decision
5. Creating an Action and/or Improvement Plan
a. Brainstorming
b. Gantt Charting
c. Responsibility Charting
6. Implementing the Plan
7. Monitoring Progress and Adjusting as Needed
8. Celebrating Successes and Next Steps or Closure

In this exercise you are required to do steps 1-5 only. You can finish the project if you want and it's important to your work or personal goals, but it's not required. You will give a brief summary of the problem, what you did and how you think it went in a 3-5 minute presentation. A sample power point is attached to help you walk through the presentation.

You will be required to include the following items:
• A written Agenda -- Sending agendas in advance helps orient people to a meeting or new process and provides an excuse to clarify issues with key stakeholders. Writing the agenda also requires that you, as the process guide, get and stay focused. An agenda should always include the purpose of the meeting so all can stay on track and be able to evaluate its success.
• A meeting evaluation - This can be a formal paper you have each participant complete or a discussion of what worked and didn't work.
• At least one document to show the process you used to come to the decision. The biggest problem in meetings is often that people start wandering onto related but other topics. To facilitate a meeting you should have a plan to visually help the group work through the problem.

Filling in a chart or graph that walks through each step helps everyone stay on track and provides a sense of accomplishment. Some samples are given in the PowerPoint presentation on the D2L site. See me if you want other suggestions about how you could conduct the meeting. You may need more than one chart. For instance you may do a brainstorming activity to determine the best idea for improvement and then create a responsibility chart to determine all the steps needed to solve the problem and who will do them.