Effective Collaboration Quiz

Mason, Nora, and Ava are part of a school project team. What is one problem they might face if they are not an effective team?

• Jumping right into the project without a plan or strategy

• Assigning clear roles for each team member

• Lack of strong leadership by the smartest person in the team

• Encouraging alternative points of view for the project

What do less than effective teams believe about school?

• Just doing stuff is what school is all about

• Having a clear goal and strategy is important

• Assigning clear roles is crucial

• Valuing different opinions is necessary

Answer explanation

Remember, becoming an effective learner who understands that growth is just as important (probably more) than performance means that getting work done is generally a "fixed" mindset that less effective learners commit themselves too. The same can be true for groups - when a group just works to get their "stuff done" they become less than effective collaborators.

What is the difference between responsibilities and roles?

• Responsibilities are more about making the group work fairly.

• Roles are more about helping the group work effectively to avoid the ill effects of group think.

• There is no difference between responsibilities and roles

• Responsibilities are clearly more effective than roles. Getting work done is what collaboration is all about.

Answer explanation

Roles are the essential positions filled by your team members, while responsibilities are the minute to minute, day-to-day tasks and functions of each role in your company. It's important to note that you will have both roles and responsibilities in an effective group - but roles are generally overlooked and underused.

Who is often responsible for the failure of a team?

• The entire team that does not get their stuff done quickly.

• A couple of members who want to think their way through a challenge.

• The team leader who makes most of the decisions for the group.

• The person playing devil's advocate

What is the goal of effective collaboration?

• To have a clear plan and strategy

• To assign clear roles

• To value dissent

• To have every person in the group have a voice

What is the role of a facilitator in a team?

• To make the process of decision making fair and equitable

• To help the team track decision making within timeframes

• To help the team think outside the box

• To listen closely and record the group's decisions

What does an effective group establish?

• Norms, goals and roles

• Clear Responsibilities for each team member.

• A clear leader or group of leaders who are most capable of leading and making decisions quickly.

• Personal aspirations

What should each team member be committed to?

• The success of the team

• Neglecting their responsibilities

• Working separately from the team in order to get their work done.

• Keeping their personal goals secret

What weakens a team's ability to meet goals and expectations?

• The information the team knows and understands

• The information the team does not know or understand

• The team's commitment to success

• The team's personal goals

What do effective groups consist of?

• Team members who dedicate themselves to the group's success

• Team members who neglect their responsibilities

• Team members who work separately from the team

• Team members who have personal aspirations that are more important that the team's goals.