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Exercise "Team Building"

Summary

Team building

Team building refers to the various methods and measures applied to create an effective team.

Phases of team building

The team building phases according to Tuckman are: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning.

Sender-receiver principle

The sender-receiver principle is a communication theory stating that all communication consists of sent and received messages. Even avoiding communication sends a message. Senders and receivers each have the task of correctly transmitting and understanding the message.

Role definition

The distribution of roles in the team is determined among the team members. It is up to the team to decide who will be called upon to assist with problems or questions.

Goal development

Goal development encompasses the formulation and communication of project goals.

Interpersonal

Interpersonal relationships are characterised by mutual communication, understanding and empathy.

GRPI Modell

The GRPI model is an approach to improve teamwork, encompassing four key elements: Goals, Roles, Processes, and Interpersonal.

Test yourself

Try to answer the following questions on your own. Take your time and think carefully before checking the solutions.

What skills should members of an agile team or a Scrum Team have?
  • Ability to communicate
  • Initiative, commitment, enthusiasm, ability to motivate
  • Sociability, openness
  • Sensitivity, self-control, capacity for appreciation
  • Loyalty, solidarity, helpfulness
  • Conflict-solving ability, argumentation culture, fairness
Which phases of team development, according to Tuckman, does a team normally go through?
  1. Forming
  2. Storming
  3. Norming
  4. Performing
  5. Adjourning
Why shouldn’t a team that is in the performing phase be torn apart?

It is possible that, in such a case, earlier phases of team building will have to be experienced again.

What happens if a replacement on the team is essential?

If individual team members leave the team and new members join, for example because people leave the company or are transferred, a change in the team cannot be avoided. The Scrum Team must be aware that productivity can be negatively affected in the short term. The entire process may start again with the first phase. It is advisable to keep turnover as low as possible. High-performing teams quickly return to their previously achieved performance levels.

What does the acronym GRPI stand for? What is behind each letter?

  • G - Goals (What are the goals and how are they communicated?)

  • R - Roles (Role definition and description - who is responsible for what?)

  • P - Processes (Which processes take place and what are the procedures?)

  • I - Interpersonal (How are the interpersonal relationships?)

What is the sender-receiver principle in communication theory?

Basically, all communication consists of sending and receiving messages. The model also states that it is not possible not to communicate. Even a break-off or refusal of any contact sends a signal.

What are the responsibilities of communicating?

  1. Responsibilities of the sender: Ensure that the message has been received correctly - by asking. Have it repeated if necessary.

  2. Responsibility of the receiver: Ensure that everything has been understood correctly. Possible actions include: Repeating the message in their own words or asking to make sure everything was understood.