Unit 4 Discussion Topic 1

Discussion Topic

Teamwork

Hiring and Evaluating Your Team (Practice)

First make sure you have done the unit reading to understand team building; you might also like to review the part of Chapter 2 that introduced human resources ideas. This discussion does not require research, but if you use any source material, avoid quoting and make sure you properly credit the source for ideas through APA in-text citation and full reference entry.

Scenario: There is a new company that needs quite a bit of technology help as they set up business selling tractor parts. For this discussion, which will assist you in completing part of this week’s written Assignment, choose the option below that suits your expertise best:

Web: You have been hired to build their website. So far, the team consists of the following people in addition to you (as consultant): an HTML-CSS design expert, a database and PHP expert, and a content expert.

Network: You have been hired to develop their office network. So far, the team consists of the following people in addition to you (as consultant): an infrastructure architect, an installation expert, and a software expert.

Software: You have been hired to create a program that tracks deliveries. So far, the team consists of the following people in addition to you (as consultant): a programming expert, an interface design expert, and a database administrator.

Database: You have been hired to create the company database. So far, the team consists of the following people in addition to you (as consultant): an SQL expert, an interface design expert, and a migration expert.

You need to hire at least one more person for your team.

For your initial post:

In your first paragraph, explain what expertise and specific skills this person (or people) should have in order to complete the team. What other resume items are important to you in developing the best team?

In your second paragraph, explain how you would evaluate your team members once a project was completed. Include the method(s) you would use and what criteria you would deem most important.

Specific subject line instructions: Write Web, Networking, Software, or Database for your initial post subject line in this Discussion to clearly identify the focus of your team. Do not label it with your name, the unit number, or the unit name.

Unit 4 Discussion Topic 2

Discussion Topic

Conflict and Resistance (Practice)

Resistance often creates conflict. Make sure you have read the section about “Understanding Resistance” in the textbook this week and checked both the website and the journal article given to you in the reading section before posting. This discussion does not require additional research, but if you use any source material, avoid quoting and make sure you properly credit the source for ideas through APA in-text citation and full reference entry.

Scenario: You were working in another building when an argument erupted between two team members regarding the design of your IT consulting project. After the yelling subsided, one of the people left work for the day and the other person is not getting much done while still feeling angry. As consultant you are in control of final decisions, but you realize that bad feelings among team members have the potential to cost your project and the client in terms of schedule and quality. You are not able to fire anyone, so you must use your skills in conflict management to regain control of the situation.

For your initial post:

In your first paragraph, explain what measures you might take to get your team to work better together. Consider changes in responsibilities, sharing responsibilities, or compromise; group exercises, outside opinions, or other actions that can lead to positive team building. Explain why you chose these specific resolutions.

In your second paragraph, briefly describe a real-life event you witnessed in which a boss, client, or coworker resisted technology change. If you do not have an experience from the workplace, choose an appropriate event from other experiences. Explain why you think the person resisted change and how that situation might have been handled better.

Subject line instruction: Write a descriptive subject line for your initial post in this Discussion. Do not label it with your name, the unit number, or the unit name; it should be unique and identify the content.

In your responses to others, consider circumstances in which emotions other than anger can cause conflict, and what could be done to mitigate the situation.