Assignments:

        For each issue, individual and group, you will be required to complete the following:

        The formats of the individual and group papers are the same. Refer to paper requirements for guidelines. A group process analysis will be required after each group paper is submitted.
 

Points:

 

Team Consulting Report (2) Individual Memos (3) Team Presentations (2) References (3 per report) Group Process Essay (2) Attendence Discretionary Points Interview Total Points

200 300 200   75   50   30   25   30 910

        You will be assigned to work in one or more groups this semester to solve an issue in agriculture. You will also be asked to evaluate your group experience through an essay.

        In any career endeavor, you will spend a significant portion of your time working with other people. Whether it is at the workplace or during volunteer activities during the evenings or weekends, you will involve experiences of organizing, managing and coordinating groups. Because teamwork is an ever-increasing skill to be learned, you will spend a large percent of your time in this class working as a team.
 
 

        The Issue – The topics will be assigned or you will be able to select a problem or issue affecting the agricultural community. This issue should be researched for relevant scientific and public concerns. Both written sources and interviews are useful. Interviews of other faculty in the college are also allowed for assistance in determining your topic or sources.

        Your primary goal is to produce a consulting report that provides a better understanding of the issue and offers information that is not readily known by the class. Be sure and search for information from opposing parties. The consulting report should include:

           *    A well-developed section that describes the issues, including problems, causes, contributing
                 factors, history, etc.
           *    An overview of potential alternatives, solutions or options that are available in solving these
                 issues or meeting a need and the consequences of each alternative.
           *    A recommendation to solve the issue including why your group feels this is the best
                 alternative.

        All information will be combined into a written consulting report. All information should be well supported and well documented through varied and reliable sources. Include a bibliography with all papers and presentations.
 

The Consulting Report Presentation (Team)
*  Evaluation Sheet

        Your group should decide how to present the information to your classmates. Your presentation should be 10 minutes long and it should include the information mentioned above. The group members should decide how the information is to be presented (lecture, audio-visual aids, etc.), and by whom (one or all). You are encouraged to be creative.

        It has been found that if a good outline of the presentation is made that this will produce a better pattern of organization and assist you in identifying whether the main points of the issue are sufficiently covered. You should think about the introduction, main points to be made in the body, and the summary or concluding remarks of the presentation.
 

The Group Process Analysis

        An important part of the group project is the essay you write. This 1-2 page essay should provide an analysis of your group experience. Reflect on how your group made decisions, who took control, who gave the orders, how the group members communicated, who delegated, how each person contributed to the overall project, etc. In short, how did your group interact? This essay should provide an insightful analysis of the processes and decision-making of your group.

        You should demonstrate in your essay some insight to these concepts: the relationship of the group (status, friendships, vested alliances, etc.), the atmosphere (work, play, conflict, cooperation), needs (individual, group, task) and communications (verbal, nonverbal and network). Individual and team roles can be described. The essay should include the concepts and terminology included in the handout, Group Process and should not consist of a personal commentary/description of personal behaviors, e.g. “He said,” “he didn’t like the idea” or “I got mad,” and “she didn’t…”

At the end of the essay, rank each member of the group according to the contribution to the project. You may include a brief comment explaining the ranking. The person ranked as number one should have contributed the most, a person ranked number two, the second most work, etc. Include yourself. This ranking should be developed in confidence. This format is suggested:

Ranking        Name        Comments
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5

The essays are due the next class period after the presentation.

        NOTE: Attendance is extremely important during the time of the group activity. It is recommended that you attend all of your group meetings, however, groups should be considerate of individual, work and family schedules. Your absence will cause serious problems to your group progress. Some class times will be allowed to work in groups.