Sustainability Progress Reflection 4 - Planning

"Example is the school of mankind, and they will learn at no other." - Edmund Burke

The exemplar project we looked at in class differed from my expectations in two main ways. The first being their outcome, everyone in class (including myself) had the impression that our outcome should be something active. A case study, to me at the very least, was an outcome you would use for an independent project. The second way the exemplar deviated from my expectations was the way it was structured. My group has been using the mark scheme to organise our plan and the exemplar didn't to that. By looking at the exemplar plan, my group and I managed to spot some points that we thought they missed base on the mark scheme. Due to this, we are doing yet another edit on the draft of the project plan.


As a group, we have decided to set the dateline of our group project for the 15th of December. We wish to get the plan done before the school holidays, so that when we come back, we can get started on achieving our outcome. We have pretty much completed most of the plan, everything (but the timeframes) has already been written down some time ago. We only have to finish our Gannt Chart. Over the weekend, we worked on it we it is very much still a draft and we will continue to edit next week.

"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." - Douglas Adams

sustainability Progress Reflection 3

"RECONSIDER, v. To seek a justification for a decision already made." - Ambrose Bierce 

Today, we discussed the aspects the draft of our written plan did not meet the mark scheme. We discussed what was missed and had to be added. I also clarified some understanding problems Jia Yi had. Then, I set the editing and revision as homework. 
After which, we set about reviewing the T-Shirt designs and gave Jia Yi feedback on how to improve them. There were several bumps that I hope we can clear up by tomorrow's lesson. While Jia Yi continued to edit the designs with Wen Wen acting as artistic examiner, Mia and I brainstormed possible questions we could pose to the Nexus community. 


While we worked efficiently during the first part of the lesson, I think that with hindsight, the second part of the lesson could have been much more organised. I think we wasted a lot of time focused on the designs and all voicing our opinions at once to poor Jia Yi. Anyway, I will keep that in mind for next lesson to make sure it doesn't happen again.

"Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely." - Rodin

Belbin Team Roles Reflection

"No one can whistle a symphony.  It takes a whole orchestra to play it." - H.E. Luccock 

Team worker (MIA) - People

Strengths: Most supportive, diplomatic, flexible 

Weakness: Indecisive in dynamic situations

Monitor evaluator (ALL) - Thinking

Strengths: Objective, strategic, values accuracy over speed

Weakness: Too critical

As a group, we are prone to over-analyse.This is probably the root of our long discussions and decision making. While we think about the details and consider a problem from all angles, it has the potential to go a bit too far.

Solution: Put time limits on discussions.

Since we all have a critical eye for detail and have a tendency to be overwhelmed by the nitty gritty, the time limits remind us to stay on track and not deviate too far from our original goal.

Plant (JIA YI, MIA, WEN WEN) - Thinking

Strengths: Creative, imaginative, problem-solver

Weakness: Absent-minded, lack of attention to detail

Solution: All Plants (ignores detail) are Monitor Evaluators too (critical and detailed).Therefore the two traits even each other out.

"Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in" - Andrew Jackson

Shaper (JACELYN) - Action

Strengths: Dynamic, considerable drive, thrives under pressure 

Weakness: Abrasive / Insensitive 

Solution: Remind Jacelyn to tone down a bit when she starts to get scary. And, chill when under pressure.

A shaper and team worker balance each other's extreme qualities. It also helps that in our team, everyone pitches in to remind Jacelyn not to get to out of hand and to include Mia in the decision making. 

Complete Finisher (JACELYN) - Action

Strengths: Meticulous, conscientious, searches out errors and omissions 

Weakness: Worrier, nit-picker, reluctant to delegate 

Solution: Remind Jacelyn not to take it too far. It will be a useless group project if only she does majority of the work. And, if she gets too anxious, the others need to calm her down.

Implementer (JIA YI, WEN WEN) - Action

Strengths: Organised, disciplined, reliable

Weakness: Inflexible 

Solution: A team worker's flexibility makes up for an implementer's inflexibility. In addition, both are monitor evaluators and therefore can be reasoned with. 

MISSING!

"In every obstacle there is an opportunity." - Anon

Specialist

Strength: Deep knowledge 

Weakness: Limited contribution

Result: We think the limited contribution of a Specialist outweighs the potential of expertise. We feel that we can do without. I think, knowledge is gained by learning and while helpful, it is not necessary to come into a group with a preexisting well of knowledge.

Resource Investigator

Strengths: Networker, enthusiastic

Weakness: Over-optimistic, easily bored

Result: We shall have to make do and take the initiative to find and contact the people related to our project. 

Coordinator

Strengths: Motivator, clarifies goals, facilitator 

Weakness: Manipulative, Over delegates

Result: We have to rely on each other to motivate us when needed. We will also have to clearly state our work and goals at the end of every discussion to ensure that everyone has a clear idea of what we are doing.

"Forethought we may have, undoubtedly, but not foresight." - Napoleon Bonaparte

An entirely valid point that Wen Wen brought up was, that she thinks the "labeled" roles, are very subjective to the mood of an individual at the time of the test, therefore these problems are more "possible" problems, clashes and conflicts that we might face rather than "fact".

I completely agree with her and in hindsight realised that we merely stated our top 3 roles. We did not include the strength of the of the role. In addition, some of the traits attributed to a certain role was the opposite of another, and an individual "supposedly" had both these conflicting characteristics. 

For complete notes of the discussions, go to: http://u-nicorns.blogspot.com/2011/11/reviewing-team-roles.html and http://u-nicorns.blogspot.com/2011/12/reviewing-team-roles-continued.html

"It is the responsibility of leadership to provide opportunity, and the responsibility of individuals to contribute." - William Pollard