Scenario

Sun City Boards, which you first read about in the Why It Matters and Putting It Together sections of the Planning and Mission module, has moved rapidly forward in its planning and organizational structure and improvements.  The company now employs 17 people in key sales, manufacturing, and financial positions. Sun City is now approaching the accomplishment of one of its key goals: to implement an e-commerce platform for the sale of their boards to a broader market.

Tom Wilson, the CEO, heard from his business advisor that a team implementation would be a good idea. Tom likes to critique the performance of his favorite football team, the Miami Dolphins, but he has no idea how a team should perform in his company.

You are a new member of the Sun City management team, and because of your previous experience with a popular e-commerce platform, Tom has asked you to lead a team of employees in the implementation effort.  Assume it’s mid-June, and you are given full access to personnel in the organization.  You are asked to achieve the following implementation goals:

1. Have the e-commerce platform up and running by year-end, with new sales to be generated at the first of the year.
2. Implement the new platform within the cost parameters provided by the CEO.
3. Ensure all existing and new inventory of surfboards are accounted for in the new system.
4. Come back to Tom Wilson with your team plan by the end of the week.

Preparation

In this assignment, you will prepare your team plan for presentation to Tom Wilson.  Your plan will include your team composition and team type.  You will also describe what you anticipate happening in the life cycle of the team and how you will effectively achieve your team goals. The following steps will help you prepare for your written assignment:

1. Thoroughly read the Groups, Teams, and Teamwork module.
2. Carefully consider the types of teams, qualities of effective teams, and their stages of performance as described in the reading. Consider effective (or ineffective) teams you have been part of in your school or work life.
3. Review the information above on Sun City Boards and the goals for the team you are to lead. Anticipate what might be some performance challenges for you as the leader.

Your Task

Prepare your team plan for Tom Wilson. Write a three-paragraph (minimum) plan describing how your team will function and how you will approach your team goals.  Your description can include illustrations and charts to clearly explain your expectations for the team’s progress.  Although you don’t have specific employee names, you may make assumptions as to the skills or responsibilities of team members you would like to include on the project.  Convince Tom Wilson that your team will perform well and achieve the goals.

Grading

Your written assignment will be graded using the Written Assignment Rubric (the Microsoft Word version of the Written Assignment Rubric is available here). Please review and keep it in mind as you prepare your assignment. Each component is weighted as follows:

10% Organization and Format

Adequate: Writing is coherent and logically organized, using a format suitable for the material presented. Transitions used between ideas and paragraphs create coherence. Overall unity of ideas is supported by the format and organization of the material presented.

40% Content

Adequate: All required questions are addressed with thoughtful consideration reflecting both proper use of content terminology and additional original thought. Some additional concepts are presented from properly cited sources, or originated by the author following logic and reasoning they’ve clearly presented throughout the writing.

40% Development – Critical Thinking

Adequate: Content indicates original thinking, cohesive conclusions, and developed ideas with sufficient and firm evidence. Ideas presented are not merely the opinion of the writer, and clearly address all of the questions or requirements asked with evidence presented to support conclusions drawn.

10% Grammar, Mechanics, Style

Adequate: Writing is free of spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors, allowing the reader to follow ideas clearly. There are no sentence fragments and run-ons. The style of writing, tone, and use of rhetorical devices is presented in a cohesive style that enhances the content of the message.