Challenges:
The major challenge we face working in and with teams, at the present time, is how to assess individual contributions to a group effort.
Our strategy has been to evaluate each team based upon: (a) the quality of what it produces in response to team-based prompts; and (b) feedback from team members on the process by which those outcomes were achieved.
Our strategy to evaluate individual participants has been based upon: (a) the quality of what each participant produces in response to individual prompts; and (b) 360 degree feedback from team members on how a participant performed an assigned role like Team Manager.
Issues that emerge from this process are addressed through regular individual and team coaching session with a trained facilitator.
This approach requires us to design and assign both individual and team tasks and to evaluation their quality separately. And, it relies heavily on self-reporting to identify and address issues. Since most of the team work is done independently it can take a long time before issues that adversely affect the quality of the work of a team are identified and addressed. A lot of what SAM is about is accelerating learning of both the adults we work with and of the students they serve. We would like to figure out a better way to assess individual contributions to a team’s efforts and would welcome your comments and suggestions.
