The document discusses key components for successful collaboration and team dynamics. It emphasizes the importance of team collaboration for academic success. Effective strategies include setting goals and expectations, defining roles, planning, open communication, and overcoming obstacles. Having a learning team charter can help reinforce collaboration by setting ground rules and guidelines. It is important that teams utilize each member's strengths and learning styles, address conflicts constructively, and motivate productivity through clear roles and listening to feedback.

1. Successful Collaboration and
Team Dynamics
Ralph Dalon
Abigail Gumbs
Dana Sagun
Kimberly Wheeler
COM 516
January 9, 2017
David Berry

2. The Value of Team Collaboration for Academic Success
In order to have academic success in a learning team, team collaboration is essential. The value in working together will strengthen the
effectiveness of your team's overall long or short term goal. Having different learning styles within a group, receiving constructive
feedback from each other, and simply bringing different ideas to the group will help will your team have success. Learning teams are also
are a valuable tool to gain experience for the workplace.
“The University’s Founder, Dr. John Sperling, recognized the value of teams in both academia and the workplace long before these benefits
became widely known and accepted. Dr. Sperling believed that learning teams fill several essential functions that are especially beneficial
to working adult learners.” (University of Phoenix, 2004) Such as:
Create collaborative learning environments in which working adults can share the practical knowledge that comes from their life and
work experience.
Improve the quality of shared projects and assignments.
Serve as vehicles for the kind of shared reflection through which adult students make sense of and apply new knowledge.
Provide a sense of community and support that is invaluable in helping working adults cope with the challenge of balancing school with

3. Strategies in Using Conflict Resolution as Opportunities
for Learning
Conflict is defined as a disagreement that occurs in groups when differences are expressed. It can be constructive or destructive.
Destructive conflict is very negative and includes bad emotions and poor behavior. There are five approaches to conflict
resolution but the best method values the group’s goals and future relationships. It is considered the most successful and beneficial
for Learning Teams.
● Avoidance - Avoiding conflict in groups is usually counterproductive because it fails to address a problem and can increase
group tensions.
● Accommodation - Accommodating others in conflict is perceived as less powerful and have less influence in group
decision making.
● Competition - Competitive team members want to win. Their cohesive style is aggressive or rude to other team members.
It is not the best method for conflict resolution. It may damage relationships. To be a successful learning team goals and
relationships must be considered most important.
● Compromise - Group members may desire a fair method for solving problems after knowing the disadvantages that they

4. Utilizing Each Team Member's Learning Style as an
Opportunity to Strengthen the Team Dynamic
Each person has a unique thought process that will contribute greatly to the team dynamic. This thought process is the diversity
that is amongst the students and team. It is critical that all ideas are accepted and challenged within the team. As a team, we all
shall have the capability to contribute evenly and focus on getting the task done. Also, it is important that there are steps to work
out conflicts.
Several concepts should be put in place in order to receive the maximum result. Some of those concepts include creating a
timelimit, focusing on facts, and accepting all ideas. When a team creates a time limit it helps push forward to the end; it can be
beneficial to have a limit on when certain parts of the assignment are finished. The team should focus on facts and branch from
those to get maximum knowledge. Lastly, as said previously, all ideas shall be accepted. It strengthens the team dynamic by
listening to all ideas from members.

5. Crucial Communication Skills for an Effective Learning
Team
Appreciate the contributions of others
Communicate openly
Be assertive
Do not laugh or put down others
Listen carefully
Ask questions
Do not undermine a decision
Create attainable goals

6. The Purpose of using the Learning Team Charter as a
Tool to Reinforce Team Collaboration while Contributing
to Team Success
● Learning Team Charter
○ The charter should be used as a tool to encourage team collaboration by setting ground rules and guidelines,
expectations for time management and involvement, ensuring fair and even contribution and collaboration and
having special considerations. The charter allows team members to collaborate successfully because a “roadmap”
has been made to keep members on task and it can be used as a resource within the team.
● Ground Rules
○ “Having ground rules at the beginning of the course, teams minimize the risk of conflict and facilitate task
completion.” ( Universtiy of Phoenix, 2002). The ground rules are the basic building blocks of what is expected of
all team members. These guidelines will keep everyone on the same page and make sure that the goal(s) of the
assignment are reached.

7. The Purpose of using the Learning Team Charter as a
Tool to Reinforce Team Collaboration while Contributing
to Team Success
● Expectations
○ The level of commitment should be discussed by the team members. Understanding the expectations and time
commitment is key to achieving success. Setting up times and methods of communication will open up deep
meaningful discussions and make completing assignments and projects more efficient. The charter allows the
diversity of team to express their ideas and opinions on the form in a professional manner. By having everyone
contribute to the charter individuals are investing in the success of the group.
Conflict
When conflict arises within the group, it’s important to go back to the charter to see how conflicts will be managed. “By
agreeing beforehand how members will deal with them, a team can minimize the disruption to goal
achievement”(University Of Phoenix, n.d.). Keep in mind that compromise may have to be used to keep the team
moving forward and to retain high morale.

8. The Purpose of using the Learning Team Charter as a
Tool to Reinforce Team Collaboration while Contributing
to Team Success
● Learning Team Charter Final Thought
○ “Use chartering as an opportunity to reflect on changes in the task, the instructor, and the relative skills of team
members” ( Universtiy of Phoenix, 2002). Having a well thought out charter that identifies the ground rules, time
commitment, method of communication and conflict resolution can be the deciding factor in achieving team
success.

9. Effective Components Necessary for Team Success
“Teaming takes time, patience, communication, organization, and discipline.”
(University of Phoenix, 2004)
Getting to know each other and each other's strengths and weaknesses
Setting goals and expectations from the beginning
Defining roles and changing roles if needed
Planning
Open and effective communication
Collaboration
Overcoming obstacles in a mature reasonable and timely fashion

10. Motivational Strategies to Increase Productivity
Make sure that everyone has and shares the information needed to make a quality decision.
When working with a team it is necessary that everyone provides information and shares it with the group. Everyone
will feel that their efforts matter and no one will take advantage of them.
If appropriate, discuss your pending decision and solicit feedback from members.
Having instant feedback motivates the group and individuals to make corrections and allow for open discussion to find
solutions. Decision making shouldn’t be done by one person, it should be a group effort making individuals feel
that they were part of the process.
Secure member commitment to the group’s shared goal.
Knowing that all members are committed builds trust within the group and accountability. Trusting each other will keep
the group focused and motivated to complete the task.

11. Motivational Strategies to Increase Productivity
Listen to members’ opinions, arguments, and suggestions.
Communication involves listening to what team members have to say. By listening, members can reflect on the current
discussion and respond with a clear meaningful response. Everyone should respect each other and listen to
everyone’s opinions, arguments, and suggestions. People in the group have a feeling of self worth and feel as if
they are needed.
Have clear roles
There are six roles when doing group work and they are “initiating, seeking information or opinions, giving information
or opinions, questioning, clarifying, and summarizing” ("Team Based Learning", 2014). Some roles are done by
individuals such as group leader but others are group based. By having clear roles it will enhance the work of
individuals and the group.

12. Motivational Strategies to Increase Productivity
Help solve interpersonal problems and conflicts.
Disagreements are going to come up when working with a team. Be sure to resolve the conflict in a timely and
professional manner. Keep in mind that it’s a group effort and not a bunch of individuals competing against one
another.
Adapt tasks and assignments to member abilities and expectations.
Discovering the strengths of team members will make assigning tasks an easier process. When working on tasks that
you are knowledgeable in, doing the work becomes meaningful and fulfilling. You get excited sharing with other
team members what you know and it makes you put out your best work.

13. Reference Page
University of Phoenix. (2002). Guide to Completing the University of Phoenix Learning Team Charter . Retrieved from
http://www.apollolibrary.com/LTT/toolkit2.aspx?ltt=essentials
University of Phoenix. (2004). Learning Team ToolKit. Conflict and Cohesion in Groups. Available on the University of Phoenix
student/faculty website http://ecampus.phoenix.edu (Retrived on Janurary 7, 2016)
University of Phoenix. (2004). Learning Team ToolKit. Conflict: Sources and Solutions. Available on the University of Phoenix
student/faculty website http://ecampus.phoenix.edu (Retrived on Janurary 7, 2016)
University of Phoenix. (2004). Learning Team ToolKit. The Team Working Together. Available on the Univesity of Phoenix
student/faculty website http://ecampus.phoenix.edu (Retrived on Janurary 7, 2016)
University Of Phoenix. (n.d.). Team Leaders and Charters. Retrieved from http://www.apollolibrary.com/Library/ltt/toolkit1.aspx
University of Phoenix. (2004). Learning Team Toolkit. Team Learning-Leadership in Groups pdf. Available on the University of
Phoenix student/faculty website: http://ecampus.phoenix.edu (Retrived on January 7, 2016).