Before completing this assignment, it is essential that you read “Module 7 – Overview: Team Project” and “Module 7 – Team Project Best Practices.”
Team Project Part 1 Instructions
The Team Project Part 1 submission will include three components: the team’s chosen topic, the team’s agreed-upon timeline for completion, and the team jobs.
Topic – Select one of the topics from the six options listed under “Module 7 – Overview: Team Project.” Explain why your team agreed to work on this particular topic over the other options.
Timeline – Once your team decides on a topic, it is time to figure out the most logical and effective way to present your ideas cohesively. To help you save time, organize your thoughts, and get better results, create a team timeline. This will provide your group with a roadmap for success on your report. After reading the “Module 7 – Overview: Team Project” and understanding the major milestones for the Team Project, what is your team’s agreed-upon timeline for completing this project? How often will you communicate? Will you contribute every other day? At least twice a week? In your timeline, be sure to include your scheduled team meetings and how your team plans to communicate with one another.
Team Jobs – After deciding upon a team timeline, decide upon each individual teammate’s job. Team jobs include who is responsible for completing each portion of the Team Project. Review the Technical Requirements of the Team Project as outlined in “Module 7 – Overview: Team Project.” Each team member should be responsible for roughly the same amount of work in completing the project. For more information on assigning team jobs, please see “Module 7 – Team Project Best Practices.”
Team jobs should include one Team Leader, the person responsible for submitting the Team Project Part 1 and the Team Project Part 3 on behalf of the entire group.
Submission Instructions
The Team Project Part 1 will be submitted by the Team Leader on behalf of the entire group. To submit, use a standard file type (DOC or DOCX) and name the file with the module number and title of the assignment (e.g., M7_TeamProjectPart1). The Team Leader should be sure that all of the team members’ names are clearly listed on a title page.
Next Steps
Continue using the Group Discussion Forum to work on your Team Project. Next week, each individual teammate will submit a draft of his or her portion of the Team Project.
Module 7 – Heads Up: Team Project Overview
Man sitting at desk reviewing information.
Over the next three modules, you will practice applying your business communication skills by contributing to a Team Project. The Team Project Assignment embraces many of the business communication principles covered in various course modules and is designed for students to gain more in-depth insight into one aspect of business communication. Together, your team will write a Formal Report on a persuasive topic.
The Team Project assignment has three graded parts:
Part 1 Assignment: Topic, Timeline, and Team Jobs (Team Submission; due Module 7)
Part 2 Assignment: Rough Draft (Individual Submission; due Module 8)
Part 3 Assignment: Final Submission (Team Submission; due Module 9)
Your Team
Teams for your Team Project have already been assigned by your instructor. To access your group’s homepage, which contains a list of your fellow group members, please follow these instructions:
The first task at this point is to log onto your team website. To do so:
Click on PEOPLE in the left column on your screen
Click on GROUP PROJECT and then on your respective group link Group1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.
Once into the group listing site, note there is a three-period icon to the right of your group designation. Click on the icon and then click on VISIT GROUP HOMEPAGE.
Now into the Homepage, the final move is to click on DISCUSSIONS in the left column.
At this point, log in by posting a short message such as your geographical location/time zone and other contact information such as your e-mail address and [optional] your phone number. At least for the moment, communicate with your team members at your DISCUSSION site but certainly explore the option of using other communication tools some of which are referenced in your group home page site.
It is important that each member log into their team site now so work can begin on the first assignment. Some of the initial formative actions you want to undertake is to appoint a team leader to coordinate the work. Also, the group assignment will involve research, writing, proofreading and graphics so you will want to share information with your group regarding your strengths in each of these areas.
Obviously the key to a successful team project is the full participation of each member and meeting deadlines. So let’s get started and begin work on properly organizing our teams.
Your team’s work space within Canvas allows you to share contact information, to discuss your ideas, and to collaborate on this project. For best practices on how to work cohesively, creatively, and effectively as a team, please read Team Project Best Practices.
Project Instructions – Module 7
With your team, you will select one topic from the six options below. Select a subject that interests the entire team and that you all believe you can effectively research and write about.
What are the steps to starting up a successful business in the new world of work? If you’re interested in exploring business entrepreneurship, prepare a report on the steps and best practices for starting up a new business in the 21st century world of work. Research sources on how to start a business including information on creating a business plan, financing your business, navigating legal and tax considerations, and more. To show the importance of these steps and best practices, be sure to provide examples of both successful and unsuccessful start-up companies. After conducting research, make a persuasive argument that the steps your team recommends will allow the business to flourish in today’s world of work.
What is the importance of EQ in business today? If you’re interested in exploring how to improve interpersonal relationships to better network and lead, prepare a report on EQ. Companies once believed that hiring persons with high IQs represented a sound recruiting strategy until the concept of emotional intelligence, EQ, emerged. Emotional intelligence affords a new way at looking at the root cause of the successes and ills of a number of business professionals. It explains why some people with high IQs flounder and why those with modest IQs do surprisingly well. Explore why some managers want employees with high EQs, not IQs. After conducting research, make a persuasive claim on the value of EQ in the 21st century workplace.
How do businesses develop brand loyalty in the 21st century? If you’re interested in exploring branding, prepare a report on brand loyalty. Branding has become a staple of the 21st century world of work. Companies like Apple, NIKE, Inc., and Whole Market have focused on developing brand loyalty. Be sure to provide examples of new companies making strides in this area and discuss how those companies have built market share. After conducting research, make a persuasive argument on the best strategy to develop brand loyalty.
How do businesses create a successful corporate culture? If you’re interested in exploring high employee motivation and loyalty, prepare a report on corporate culture. Corporate culture is the synthesis of an organizations collective beliefs, value systems, and processes that result in successful performance. Businesses refer to it as how we do things here. Discuss the concept, why its an important communication component for businesses, and how its created in specific companies. Be sure to provide examples of companies in which corporate culture is breeding success as well as companies with ineffective corporate culture. After conducting research, make a persuasive argument on the most effective ways to create a strong company culture.
How does a business develop an engaging social media strategy? If you’re interested in exploring how businesses apply the potential of social media to their overall brand marketing and communication strategies, prepare a report on how to engage with an effective social media strategy. Social media technology shapes the business world in many ways as older platforms fade and newer platforms emerge. As platforms wax and wane in popularity, what social media channels are critical for businesses today? Be sure to provide examples of companies that have crafted a unique and competitively differentiated business model around social media as well as companies that have not done so well on social media. After conducting research, make a persuasive argument on the best strategy to engage an audience utilizing social media.
How will “Generation Z” employees entering the workforce impact business communication? If you’re interested in exploring generational differences, prepare a report on how the newest generation to enter the workforce will change communication strategies in business. Generation Z, the generation immediately following Millennials, have just begun to enter the workforce. Who are the Generation Zers? Who might they be as entry-level employees in the workforce? How might business communication change because of these Generation Z employees? How might other generations interact with Generation Zers? After conducting research, make a persuasive argument on how the newest generation of employees to enter the workforce might shift and change business communication practices.
Technical Requirements
The Formal Report must:
Make a persuasive argument addressing one of the above six prompts utilizing effective research, examples, and the modes of persuasion (ethos, pathos, and logos)
Be at least 2,000-2,500 words, double spaced, with 1-inch margins.
Contain information from six sources with six in-text citations within the body of report consistent with proper APA formatting guidelines. Include a “References” page formatted in accordance with APA standards.
Use at least two visuals (image, graph, chart, table, etc.) within the body of the report utilizing visual communication best practices.
Utilize Business and Professional Writing: A Basic Guide’s Chapter 18: Formal Reports (pp. 299-350) as a guide
Include the following required elements of a formal report as outlined in Chapter 18: Formal Reports (pp. 299-350):
Title page
Letter or memo of transmittal to your instructor
Table of contents
List of figures and/or list of tables (depending upon the visuals utilized)
Executive summary / abstract
Introduction and background
Body containing information from six sources, examples, and persuasive appeals
Conclusions / recommendations
References page in APA format
Include an equal distribution of writing among all members of the team
Next Steps
First, read over the Team Project Best Practices. Next, begin using your group’s discussion forum in Canvas early on in Module 7 to decide on a topic, to develop an agreed-upon timeline for project completion, and to assign team
Module 7 – Team Project Best Practices
Overhead photo of a group of business people having a meeting.Remember that group projects will always have challenges. To be an effective communicator – and especially to practice your Business Communication skills – means knowing how to manage those challenges when they arise.
Effective communicators:
can explain their own ideas
express their feelings in an open but non-threatening way
listen carefully to others
ask questions to clarify others ideas and emotions
can sense how others feel based on their nonverbal communication
will initiate conversations about group climate or process if they sense tensions brewing
reflect on the activities and interactions of their group and encourage other group members to do so as well (Centre for Teaching Excellence, 2016 (Links to an external site.)).
This week, schedule some time to discuss the project, your topic, your timeline for completion, and your team jobs. In addition to using your Team Discussion Forum, a form of asynchronous communication, your team may also elect to schedule one or more synchronous meetings to discuss the project. Your team might decide to use a Doodle (Links to an external site.)poll to figure out the best date and time to meet. Your team might utilize synchronous meeting tools such as Skype (Links to an external site.), Google Hangouts (Links to an external site.), and/or WhatsApp (Links to an external site.). These tools may help your group communicate faster and easier than email or Canvas message, so decide the the group’s preferred way to stay in touch.
Of course, it will take effort from all members to work collaboratively to set a healthy group climate. If a teammate does not participate on the Team Discussion Forum by the 4th day of the Module Week, send him/her a message in Canvas to attempt to connect and engage. If a teammate does not participate on the Team Discussion Forum by the end of the Module Week, be sure to indicate this in your team’s submission.
During the team project process, it will be essential for each individual to exhibit the following skills:
“Individual responsibility and accountability: All group members agree on what needs to be done and by whom. Each student then determines what he or she needs to do and takes responsibility to complete the task(s). They can be held accountable for their tasks, and they hold others accountable for theirs.
Constructive Feedback: Group members are able to give and receive feedback about group ideas. Giving constructive feedback requires focusing on ideas and behaviours, instead of individuals, being as positive as possible, and offering suggestions for improvement. Receiving feedback requires listening well, asking for clarification if the comment is unclear, and being open to change and other ideas.
Problem solving: Group members help the group to develop and use strategies central to their group goals. As such, they can facilitate group decision making and deal productively with conflict. In extreme cases, they know when to approach the professor for additional advice and help.
Management and organization: Group members know how to plan and manage a task, how to manage their time, and how to run a meeting. For example, they ensure that meeting goals are set, that an agenda is created and followed, and that everyone has an opportunity to participate. They stay focused on the task and help others to do so too.
Knowledge of roles: Group members know which roles can be filled within a group (e.g., facilitator, idea-generator, summarizer, evaluator, mediator, encourager, recorder) and are aware of which role(s) they and others are best suited for. They are also willing to rotate roles to maximize their own and others group learning experience (Centre for Teaching Excellence, 2016 (Links to an external site.)).
Team Discussion Forum
While your group’s page and the Team Discussion Forum will not be graded, your instructor will periodically check in. Please ensure you maintain the highest standards of professionalism in this area of Canvas.
