Business Academic Skills

Session 2
Teamwork

Lecturer: Anna Loseva

anna.loseva@isb.edu.vn
 Today we will…
●Form groups, choose TOPICS for the GROUP ESSAY
assignment
●Get to know our teams
●Prepare and give a mini group presentation
●Get the guidelines for effective group work
 Re your HW:
What’s wrong here?
Re your HW: What’s wrong here?
Regarding your HW

➔ Video submissions: Answer all questions - give an

outline first.

➔ Written submissions: Complete ALL required task

parts (that’s why I require the HW info on top!).
1. Meet & greet! Present yourself
to your group mates by talking
about your top & bottom skills
(HW1.1)

2. Discuss previous experiences

with teamwork: Was it positive?
negative? Why?
1. Discuss channels of
communication

2. Add your team list in the class

spreadsheet (link is on
Canvas)

3. Make your team list on paper

for Anna
Choosing topics for group essay
 12 big topics overall
… but you might not have a chance to choose
your first option.
 Discuss with your group members
(20 minutes!)
❏ What do you already know about each of these topics & questions?
❏ Which topics & questions would be more interesting to research and
write about?

Make a ranking of ALL topics for

your team.
For each topic make a note:

How interesting is this topic on a scale

1-5 for ALL group members?
 BUSINESS ETHICS
1. Examine the notion of business ethics and
illustrate with examples.

2. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is

sometimes regarded as a buzzword designed
to create a positive image for a company.
Comment on the statement.

3. Critically evaluate the role that businesses

play in climate change.
 GENDER ROLES IN BUSINESS
1. Evaluate the impact of
gender-based discrimination in
hiring practices.

2. How do traditional gender

stereotypes affect the modern
business environment?
 HUMAN RESOURCES
1. Examine the impact of implementing
coaching and mentoring strategies in human
resource management.

2. Compare and evaluate some of the

techniques used to motivate employees.

3. Remote work should be seen as the new

normal in business settings. Discuss.
 ENTREPRENEURSHIP
1. Examine the factors leading to a success of a
start-up enterprise.

2. Some people believe that family enterprise is

the most efficient way of running a successful
business. To what extent is this a fair comment?

3. Discuss the potential and risks of AI use in

business.
 MARKETING
1. How have marketing techniques
changed in the past 20 years and to
what effect?

2. Some companies believe that social

media marketing strategies should be
prioritized. Examine the statement.
 SMALL vs BIG BUSINESS
1. How does the expansion of big
corporations affect small businesses?

2. Large businesses have big budgets for

marketing and promotion, and as a result
customers gravitate towards their
products. Examine the problems this
causes and offer solutions.
 E-BUSINESS
1. How has e-business impacted
society and what are its prospects?

2. While some companies believe

that engaging in e-commerce is the
way forward, others resist change
and struggle to adapt. Discuss the
statement.
 BUSINESS & SOCIETY
1. To what extent is the work of non
governmental organizations (NGOs) vital
for a country’s development?

2. Business needs to connect with the

community and produce social innovation.
Examine the statement and illustrate with
examples.
 EDUCATION
1. How significant are cultural differences when
studying in an international educational context?
Illustrate with reference to contexts of your choice.

2. Review the recent global shift towards online

learning and discuss its impact on the quality of
education.

3. Discuss the potential and dangers of AI use in

education.
 BUSINESS & THE WORLD
1. Discuss the meaning of
consumerism for the business of
the future.

2. Examine the concept of

globalization and what it means
for businesses.
 LEADERSHIP
1. Examine the differences
between a leader and a manager.

2. Discuss the most tangible

challenges that business leaders
are facing these days.
 DIVERSITY
1. It is essential for businesses
to invest in improving their
diversity and inclusion policies
and practices. Discuss.

2. Examine the effects of a

culturally diverse working
environment.
IMPORTANT DATES
Annotated bibliography (minimum 800 words):
Submission on Canvas by Session 6
Based on ALL of your team’s readings for the essay.

Group Essay (1300-1500 words):

Outline - Session 3
First draft -Session 5
Second draft -Session 6
Canvas submission - by Session 7
 Team discussion:
What is each member’s practical
experience with these skills? Discuss.
Assign a note-taker for your discussion.

❏ academic writing (individually

and in groups)
❏ doing research for an
assignment
❏ using referencing systems
 Work together to prepare a mini presentation
(3-min max) :

Teams Teams

How to organize CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

methods and practices
EFFECTIVE group work. in group work.

Your presentation content should be based on the

reading for today’s session.
ALL group members must speak.
 Team New York - How to organize EFFECTIVE group work.
An Effective Team Has:

RECOGNITION

Clear goal: 7.5+/10 “If we surround ourselves with positive

(final result)
people, capable people, it is easier to go
where we want to go.”
John Arthur Daniel, Linkedin

● Group rules:
- Start on time, end on time
- Come to the meeting prepared: save time and have the most effective outcomes
- Focus on the issue: qualified meeting time (be Relieving tensions, do not be Clowning)
Can Tho’s Gang
CONFLICT STRATEGY
01 CONFLICT TYPES 03 GUIDELINES

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT 04 RESPONDING TO

02
STYLES CRITICISM
 How to organize EFFECTIVE group work
Team Tokyo
3. Create time-management guidelines
1. Establish group ground rules - Schedule regular meetings with the group to
- Respect the view of others review progress, discuss challenges, and make
- Share responsibilities and workloads adjustments to the plan as needed. This will help to
- Prepare for meeting and set agendas keep everyone on track and ensure that the project is
- Communicate immediately if you think you on schedule.
may not be fulfill an agreement 4. Plan your project and set clear targets and
2. Allocate roles and tasks expectations
- Team leader - Break the project down into manageable
- Editor sub-tasks with achievable and realistic targets.
- Researcher 5. Communicate regularly to check progress, and
- Content aggregator maintain unity of project and group
- Establishing mutual respect and understanding
among group members.
- To ensure clarity and transparency about goals
and expectations.
Team Paris
Successful Groups
1. Roles
Leader : clear deadlines,rules and schedule frequent meetings;
Members : analyzing and identifying the task,communicate,actively engaged in both maintenance
and task responsibilities, attend to criticism and make important decisions together

2. Skills for team work

● Team management (for leaders)
● Time management
● Encourage disagreement
● Effective communication
● Positive attitude
● Problem-solving

3. Process of group work

 Team <Sydney>
1. Conflict management methods:
● Finding a leader
● Setting general rules:
+ Feel free to speak your opinions
+ Being respectful to each other
● When there’s a conflict => group discussion, if can’t unify the one possible opinion => vote for being fair
● Try to create a harmonious environment when working, but still need to finish the task on time

2. Practice
● The following ways to reduce the number of conflicts in a group:
+ Makes responsibility and ground rules clear at the beginning
+ Discuss problems as they arise, rather than letting them fester until people explode.
● For example
+ One common reason: Inadequate communication: instructions that were miscommunicated or a comment that was taken the
wrong way => tension, poor productivity, and of course, errors.
+ Leaders may need to mediate between employees with diverse personalities, preferences, or work style conflicts, as
disagreements are inevitable but not unsolvable.
Team <HCM city>
Conflict management methods and practices in the group
Conflict management methods Conflict management practices

Making responsibilities and ground rules Recognize the “enemies” that can limit your
clear at the beginning ability to manage conflict effectively

Frame ideas positively Plan what you want to say

Acknowledge verbal and non-verbal Take turns speaking and listening

messages of discomfort, anger, or hostility

Discuss problems as they arise Set the stage for finding solution

Realize that group members are not Identify your needs and those of the other
responsible for each other’s feelings. person
Team Hai Phong
Bao

Clear goals
Thu

Capable team
Linh members

Commitment to
excellence Nhu

Outside
Nguyen recognition

Collaborative
climate
 1. Conflict management
TIP #1
Consider the skills 2. Effective
required for cooperative
work.
communication

3. Emotional
intelligence (EQ)
 1. Single leader

TIP #2 2. Rotating leaders: Different

Decide on the team team members take on the
leadership role throughout the
leadership type project and course assignments

3. Collective leadership:
Leadership is seen as a set of
behaviours necessary for the team
success, not a person!
More tips:
● Change team roles

● Keep clear records of your work (create a

shared Google Drive folder)
Be mindful of the negative roles in your teams
→ blocking other people’s ideas
→ dominating
→ clowning
→ withdrawing
Gibb’s communication climates
SUPPORTIVE → <3
→ describe feelings/reactions/needs
→ “we have a problem, we can find a
solution”
→ spontaneous, open, honest
communication
→ take perspectives by putting yourself
in other people’s shoes. Empathy!
→ mutual respect & value of WE &US
→ embrace the unexpected & prepare
for creative solutions
DEFENSIVE → X
→ judge, blame, criticise (YOU did this, YOU
didn’t do that)
→ focus on control (“others should change
their behaviours!”)
→ manipulation, tricks, withholding info
→ detached “whatever” attitude
→ superiority & competition
→ certainty
 1. Describe
BEHAVIOUR
2. Describe FEELINGS
that it causes
3. State
CONSEQUENCE
4. REQUEST a
through FOUR-PART modification of
behaviour
assertion messages
Practice non-judgemental messages
 1. “You may not notice, but
1. Describe throughout our meeting you
BEHAVIOUR tend to slip to using
Vietnamese.”
2. Describe FEELINGS 2. “As I cannot understand or
that it causes follow, I feel excluded and
3. State frustrated.”
3. “As a result, I am unable to
CONSEQUENCE contribute meaningfully to our
4. REQUEST a team meetings.”
modification of 4. “Let’s all agree to speak only
English during our project
behaviour discussions.”
You cannot FORCE the person
to change their behaviour!
Stages of group development
 Conflict is
❖ a difficulty when meeting
the needs
❖ inevitable
❖ an opportunity for positive
change
 ● Misunderstanding/
miscommunication

Understand the ● Disrespect/disregard for

others
CAUSES of conflict ● Conflicting egos
● Impatience
● Fear & insecurity over
loss of control
 Get to know different
conflict management styles

and apply them wisely

Follow conflict strategy guidelines
(p.164-165 of Cheesebro)
 Troubleshoot group problems
Ready-made suggestions for you in Braun, p.387
Before informing lecturers of any group issues, attempt to
resolve them TOGETHER with your team.
Take responsibility for your teamwork!
 Deliver criticisms gently
Respond to criticisms skillfully
Beware of...
→ “I think you should”
→ passive aggressive comments

Describe behaviour + what’s the problem with it?

Suggest alternatives. → constructive criticism
This is the worst paragraph I’ve ever seen. →

I feel that if this paragraph was given more time and

effort, it would turn out more organized/researched/etc.
Can you tell me which problems you encountered in
working on it?
Establish your group’s ground rules
Useful worksheets on teamwork (also on Canvas)
1. Assigning tasks in a team
2. Communication and conflicts
3. Group work 101
4. Managing a group project
5. A guide to teamwork
6. Team charter (template)
7. Writing together
Purposes of this week’s BIG homework:

❏ Prepare for the next session

❏ Get to know your team
really well
❏ Practice planning and
holding a group meeting
❏ Get started on the group
essay together
TO-DO LIST for Session 3, Part 1

READ for class: Braun et al. Module 13

READ for QUIZ: Unistep Chapters 3 (read this
early and first! This is for group essay outline!), 4
and 5
 TO-DO LIST for Session 3, Part 2
HW2.1 (group submission, one file per group): Team analysis
STEP 1: Each of the group members does two self-assessment tasks individually:
(1) Cheesebro, Assignment 7.2 (managing conflict)
(2) Cheesebro, Assignment 8.1 (participation styles)
STEP 2: Considering the results of the self-assessments, each of the group members
writes one paragraph answering the following Qs in detail, referring to the key terms of
Chapters 7 and 8:
1) What do the results of both self-assessments show? Do you agree? Why (not)?
2) How satisfied are you with these results?
3) What changes would you like to make in your conflict and participation styles?
 TO-DO LIST for Session 3, Part 2
HW2.1 (group submission, one file per group): Team analysis
STEP 3: Share the individual paragraphs with the whole team. Read carefully and then
together compose a group reflection paragraph answering the following question:
How can the information gathered from these self-assessments help your team to work
effectively together?

Your HW2.1 file should include

- Individual reflection paragraphs of all members (STEP 2)
- Group reflection paragraph (STEP 3)
 TO-DO LIST for Session 3, Part 3
Have a team meeting with two purposes:
(1) create a team charter
(2) discuss group essay ideas and outline

HW2.2 (group submission, one file per group): Team meeting.

Submit a file with:
(1) Your team meeting agenda (use Braun p .402-403 as a template)
(2) Your meeting minutes (refer to Cheesebro p.192-193)
(3) Your team charter (see this file for an example and this template to fill out)
(4) Reflections of the team members on the efficiency/challenges of this
meeting (1 paragraph from each member)
Before you do it → PLAN IT!
❏ Clear purpose of the meeting
❏ Agenda (share with the team BEFORE the meeting!) - use/modify
templates (Braun p.402-403)
❏ How will decisions be made? (decision tree, dot planning, standard agenda)

The most effective meetings are planned ahead

with an agenda sent out to participants!
→ What’s in the meeting minutes?
❏ Decisions reached
❏ Action items (follow-up: who & what & by when) →
summarized at the end of the meeting
❏ Unresolved items
TO-DO LIST for Session 3, Part 4
● Slides with group essay outline: link in the
class spreadsheet, 1 file per group
● Use Google Slides + allow edits for Anna’s email to
receive feedback
● Use p. 57-64 of Unistep + Critical Thinking
cheatsheet (see Materials on Canvas). Follow the
instructions in the next slide.
 Your Google Slides should follow this structure:
1. Slide 1: Group, your big topic; explain the choice of the topic.
2. Slide 2: Specific essay question. Topic words, Task words, Focus words. (Unistep Chapter 3)
3. Slide 3: Research focusing questions (see Unistep p.62). Highlight the most important ones
that you think will help you guide the research.
4. Slide 4: Relevant critical thinking questions (see Critical thinking cheatsheet): At least 1
question per question word.
5. Slide 5: Essay question + your tentative thesis statement (this is the main argument
for your essay; it is a general, one-sentence response to the essay Q)
6. Slide 6: Arguments that you plan to develop in the body paragraphs. Your essay
should have at least 4 body paragraphs (in addition to intro and conclusion). For each
body paragraph include the topic + some notes about potential content.
Thank you and see you next week!
anna.loseva@isb.edu.vn