Team+Synergy

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__Team Synergy__ __Video__

@http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs9vpGBrDn8

**Sandra Martinez** **Justin Pitchford** **Gabriel Flores** **Lisette Valentine** **Yvonne Trujillo**


 * __ 1. What is your topic? (per chapter title) __**

How Groups Work.


 * __ 2.What company are you assessing as consultants? __**

American Red Cross


 * __ 3. Provide some background information about the business (just start on it but not due until final project is due, as is the case with numbers 6 and 7) __**

The American Red Cross (ARC), also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. We went to red cross for an interview with the director of volunteer services. She explained how the American Red Cross team works and how although there may be differences, they all pull together for one common purpose and that is to help people and save lives. It is that common goal that motivates people to work together in groups. She also communicated to us how they have benefited from the use of technology and how it has increased their efficiency, communication and response time. She also told us the history of how red cross and how it was started by Clara Barton during the civil war. She indicated that Clara wanted to help out the injured and dying soldiers and thus recruited people in her town to help her in her humanitarian efforts. We also found out that they are finiacially supported through donations and fund raising.
 * __ 4. What topics/theories will you cover to explain the interesting/challenging/successful phenomenon going on in the company? __**

- Group Input, Group & Integrated Dynamics -How groups make decisions, and how to improve group decisions - what is an effective group, group communication networks - Forming, Storming, & Norming - Performing, Adjourning


 * __ 5.Who will be responsible for discussing what theories? __**

Lisette- Group Input, Group & Intergroup Dynamics Yvonne-How groups make decisions, and how to improve group decisions <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Justin- what is an effective group, group communication networks <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Sandra- Performing, Adjourning Gabriel- Forming, storming, and norming

(Number 6 and 7 below are not yet due but just noted here for record.)


 * __ 6. Discuss in what ways some of the theories relate to the company, and in what ways some of the theories DO NOT relate to the company (there needs to be both as not every theory you choose will be exactly fitting to the company.) __**

__Group Inputs__: <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; vertical-align: baseline;">They all work together to process information and reach agreement on goals or methods for accomplishment and because of this they all have a common goal to save lives in which makes a stronger launching pad for group success. They use technology to communicate and coordinate with other chapters during a disaster, and to advance their efficiency with blood making sure that it is the best of quality. They are all well trained and have the best skills for task performance and problem solving. Red Cross volunteers all have compatible needs and are likely to be a more effective group than others that are incompatible.

__<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; vertical-align: baseline;">Group and Intergroup Dynamics __<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; vertical-align: baseline;">: Red Cross volunteers work well together in turning inputs into desired outputs. They have great group dynamics because the forces of saving lives affects how they can relate to and work well with another. At Red Cross they have both required and emergent behaviors. Required by being defined and expected by the organization and Emergent because the members display in addition to what the organizaton requires of them. In intergroup dynamics, they are able to work well with other groups from all over the country. They operate as cooperative systems in which the various components support one another. There is hardly any competition or intergroup problems because they all have had the standarized training and they have a common purpose to help others.

__Forming__ is a time when group members get to know each other. It's a time to define group rules and determine the task of the group. The American Red Cross utilizes it's entry and training process to help volunteers develop relationships

__Storming__ In the stage of the development period groups sometime deal with tensions and define group tasks. Fortunately for Red Cross volunteers they are usually too busy to be confronted with conflict.

__Norming__ This stage is sometimes called initial integration. This is when groups really start to come together. For the Red Cross this is a time to show leadership and compassion by working and living in the same conditions of their clients.

__<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; vertical-align: baseline;">Performing __ <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; vertical-align: baseline;">-groups do not have time to integrate <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; vertical-align: baseline;">-Groups have to work together to perform efficiently. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; vertical-align: baseline;">-12 hours shifts a day <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; vertical-align: baseline;">There are designate areas to disconnect <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; vertical-align: baseline;">-Their goal is to provide services to the affected people. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; vertical-align: baseline;">Due to ahumbling experience there is no descrimination

__<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; vertical-align: baseline;">Adjourning __ <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; vertical-align: baseline;">When volunteers complete their 3 weeks period <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; vertical-align: baseline;">They return home feeling relieved. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; vertical-align: baseline;">They still thinking on what they when through. <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; vertical-align: baseline;">Event meeting. Where they teel their supervisor their experinces at the disaster site.

__How groups make decisions:__ Then there is a disaster in any part of the United States the Red Cross comes to the rescue. The national headquarters for the Red Cross in located in Washington D.C. There management activate their DHR list. The DHR system has millions of registered volunteers that are mainly retired firefighters, police officers, military forces, and the local community. All volunteers are required to stay for 3 weeks when they are called and must be able to leave at little notice. Each volunteer are required to have a background check, Interview, be in good health, and able to be flexible with their schedules.Management assigns senior leaders to a location to set up shelters. The senior leaders are assigned a team of volunteers that may come from other states or cities or local residents. The senior leaders apply the authority rule when making group decisions. These decision can be tasks that are given the volunteers which may include, helping disaster victims with questions, help find missing people, help unload or load medical and food supplies. There are always a team of two volunteers working together and never a single volunteer working alone. It is helpful to leaders to get to know their volunteers and what experience they have had with the Red Cross so they can be assigned to the right tasks.

__What is an effective group:__ An effective group is one thatachieves high levels of task performance, member satisfaction, and teamviability. Red Cross trains every volunteer exactly the same so there is alwaysgreat task performance. They put the needs of others first to ensure noconflict. Red Cross makes sure every member has a specific job to do so no onefeels left out. The volunteers also have great feelings of accomplishment so memberskeep volunteering.

__Group Communication Networks:__ There are three different types ofgroup communication networks; Decentralized communication networks – Memberscommunicate directly with one another, centralized communication networks –Links group members through a central control point, and restrictedcommunication networks – Links sub-groups that disagree with one another’spositions. The Red Cross utilizes centralized and decentralized communicationnetworks. All members communicate with each other during disaster situations,and the main tasks come from central hub and trickles down to volunteers. Thisencourages high interdependency around common tasks, and is best for complextasks like disaster responses.


 * __ 7. For those theories not utilized by the company, do you think they should? does it fit the organization? how so? why or why not? __**

__How to improve group decisions:__ Group decision making can be improved if management can offer consistent courses in disaster training. Most volunteers don't become volunteers until a disaster has happened. The Red Cross does offer CPR and First Aid class, but not how to help or assist in a disaster. Volunteers mostly learn with hands on experience. During a disaster the best technique leaders can use is brainstorming. This technique is best when people have to give quick to responds in order to make decisions. Every minute counts when you have thousands or millions lives that are at stake

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__** Meeting Details: **__


 * __ a) How often will you meet as previously decided? __**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fridays @ 9:30 am and open availability <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We met this Friday May 20, 2011.....@ Red Cross for meeting to gather and research information. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Met Wednesday May 25, 2011.....We shot our introduction video. We are meeting Fri May 27th...To complete power point and practice presenting. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We intend to meet again on Tuesday May 31st to practice and perfect presentation. Met Friday May 27th - Worked on Power Point Met Tuesday May 31st - Completed Power Point, Practiced


 * __ b) Who will take on what roll or do what tasks for the group? __**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Research-Yvonne <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Video-Lisette <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Power point- Sandra <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Speaking-Gabe <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Writing-Justin


 * __ c) What things are left to do as a group? list them... __**

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The video and power point. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We also have to put our theories and facts together. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We have the pictures for the presentation and all the information that we got from the meeting. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We did not have time to finish the video because we saw the entire facility at the red cross and the technology that they use to perform a better job. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We all met this Friday and we went to the red cross in front of Cal Poly Pomona. All of us were on time and we were there for almost 2 hrs. We meet with Jerrie Dean (Volunteer services Director) and a volunteer who is devoted to helping people when there is a disaster. He told us about all his experience and how he could relate to the victims as a former victim himself. He also mentioned the protocol for who, how, when, and where they will help. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We have finally finished the video and now all we have left is just the touching up of the power-point and rehearsing and organizing the presentation.