Teams are created for a variety of reasons. The main reason for creating a team is because a task is too large to complete as an individual in the desired time frame. A team is also needed when there are multiple tasks that must be completed at the same time, in different places, so different people are needed. Sometimes, we form a team because no one individual posesses all of the necessary skills to complete the task.
Effective team work is a rewarding part of most jobs. However, high-functioning teams don't just happen and most teamwork requires that team mates are skilled in their area of expertise as well as in how to work together as part of a team.
While it is critical that each team member continuously works to improve their individual skills, it is often the lack of team skills that will ultimately determine the project's success or failure in reaching their goal. The lack of team work skills is also more likely to lead to conflicts that can not be resolved without outside help, like from a boss, coach, or instructor.
The good news is that team work skills can be learned and practiced. And, such skills are very transferable to other teams that you find yourself on or wish to create. Maybe, someday you will want to start your own company. In such cases, your own personal team work skills will help you to form effective teams even if that means that you train your own team members.
Learning to work as a team is one of the first requirements of any team, and it is common to need to continue practing these skills as your team matures. Communication is even more critical than having all highly skilled team members. Team members can always learn the skills they lack, but if communication is lackting then deadlines will be missed and hard feelings will be the result.
Some team members will have more experience and may believe that it is easier for them to just complete the tasks themselves. However, this is a short-sighted mistake in some teams as it ensures that the less experienced members remain less experienced and will remain less likely to be able contribute. A better strategy is to work with the less experienced members to get them "up to speed" so that as new tasks are identified, any available team member will be able to complete the task.
When a team supports and assists all team members, it makes is easier for each team member to complete a task and easier to admit when they need help to complete the task. In such teams, it is much more likely that tasks will have fewer bugs and be completed on schedule.
Communication is key. If a member feels unable to complete a task, they must be able to communicate that so that they can recieve help or so that the task can be reassigned in time for it to still be completed. Because of this, it is critical that team mates are honest about their skills and that they do not agree to more than they can complete on time. Teams can recover from members who are not able to complete tasks, but only if they learn this in time to reassign or add other members to the problem.
From a few semesters of assigning students to teams, I can share that the number one complaint that I have recieved is that a partcular team member is failing to respond to repeated attempts to meet, talk, write code.
In CS400, we will require you to complete several activities as a team. Each activitiy is selected and assigned to help you and your teammates learn about each other as team mates, and to establish effective ways of communicating with each other.