Lakeisha Robertson
Gen 201

Reflection: Collaborative Discussion

During the last five weeks of instruction I have learned how beneficial collaboration can be both in the workplace and student life. One of the university’s fundamental learning goals is effective collaboration communicating with others in a group or team is the key benefit from collaboration. It also develops team competence. My input in a learning team environment enables me to share my thoughts or opinion on a particular subject or issue. I learned the first process in team collaboration is called chartering according to chapter reading. In Keys to Success chartering is defined as the process by which the team is formed, its mission or task described, its resources allocated, its goals set, membership committed and plans made. A successful charter has a plan and will implement strategies to carry out these plans. There are certain factors that might affect team collaboration. There must be a clear indication if the team will be manager led or self-managed. Having someone committed to facilitating the teams progress towards its goal. That manager led team has to commit someone who can supply the necessary competence to achieve the goal. Critical thinking and ethics improve your ability to collaborate with others because you can analyze, ask questions before adding your own input. You may be able to feed off of your peers ideas in a team effort. We should always take great caution in analyzing and questioning ideas before knowing if the facts or valid or from reliable sources. Taking caution in knowing the facts before passing judgment or forming an opinion is important. It’s sort of like sending a surgeon to surgery without scalpels. You must be fully prepared to carry out the task at hand. Remember to use a positive approach and hopeful language when interacting with others. Individuals create ideas based off others ideas. Avoid stereotypes and beware and build knowledge about other cultures. Personal bias and emotion influence decision making far too many times in our lives. Unfortunately in academic settings it is not useful. When selecting resources for academic research you want to rely on reliable sources from reliable sites. The University of Phoenix provides an excellent source for finding legitimate and reliable reference materials located in the university’s library. There you will find books and other reference materials to complete the many writing assignments you will be required to do throughout your educational experience. The collaboration strategies used when working in learning teams during future UOP courses are first and foremost effective communication. Constructive criticism and conflict resolution are also effective strategies. The level of commitment also factors in team collaboration. You want everyone to put in the same level of participation and effort as the next. Identifying conflict within a team and resolving conflict is also a strategy needed in effective team collaboration. In conclusion these last five weeks have been an eye opener about my strengths and weaknesses. It also enlightened me on the positive side of team collaboration and how it can actually help the group as a whole by being able to bring forth different ideas and points from a diverse group of people broadening the scope of intellects that share one common purpose. Learning different styles and techniques of writing and interpersonal skills from others is an education in itself.