Marissa Mallahan

January 19, 2018

A. Concrete Experience - Think back on a time when a social / group / team experience did
not work out as well as you thought it would (or hoped it would).
1. Objectively describe the experience (who, what, when, where, how)
(type your response here)
During the recent company Christmas party, we were tasked with decorating an already

built gingerbread house model. Each team consisted of seven people, who were pick by the

members of team itself. There were two objectives of the activity. (1) each team had to come up

with a theme, and (2) completely decorate the ginger house reflecting that theme. The teams

were given a time limit of ten minutes in which to complete both tasks. The team was

unsuccessful in complete both required goals of the activity within the allowed timeframe. We

were all were so focus on decorating the house that we totally forgot to establish a theme. The

result of our action created decorative scheme that was so scatter and based off individual’s own

taste and creativity.

2. Subjectively describe your feelings, perceptions, and thoughts that occurred

of the house, rather than the overall decorative pattern / theme. Secondly, there was a sense that

no one wanted the assume a leadership role within the group. Everyone seems to tense, and

unsure of what they are doing.

B. Reflective Observation
1. Looking back at the experience, what were the perspectives of the key actors
(including you?)
(type your response here)
 Self-reflection 2

Objectively looking back on this activity no one took the initiative to take lead on the

project. Everyone is more focus on individuality rather than team camaraderie. Furthermore, the

members of team did take the activity serious and just saw it as a time filler.

2. Why did the people involved (including you) behave as they did?
(type your response here)
Members did not view the activity as team building exercise, especially because we all

currently worked within the same department.

C. Abstract Conceptualization
1. Relate concepts/theories from the assigned readings and, if helpful, from other
readings you’ve done for other classes, to the experience. Please apply at least two concepts
(and/or theories) and cite them properly.
(type your response here)
In conceptualization, one concept that comes to mind is emotional contagion. Emotion

contagion is defined as “the process whereby moods and emotions of people around us influence

our emotional state” (Thompson, 2014, p.112). There was no sense of seriousness among other

members of the team, which created a sense that I would also be wasting my time taking this

activity serious. Behavioral entrainment and vicarious affect are two concept that can also be

utilized to conceptualize the experience. Behavior entrainment is “the process whereby one

person’s behavior is adjusted or modified to coordinate or synchronize with another person’s

behavior” (Thompson, 2014, p.113). While vicarious affect refers to “situations in which a

person’s emotions are induced or caused by another person’s emotions” (Thompson, 2014,

p.113). Each concept helps to answer the why in which the way members of the team view the

activity and how the lack of seriousness from one member can inherently spread to the team at

large.

D. Active Experimentation
1. What did you learn about psychological contracts from this experience?
(type your response here)
 Self-reflection 3

A takeaway from this activity about psychological contract from the experience is that

behaviors are unconsciously transferable.

2. What did you learn about yourself?

easily and I also did not take the exercise seriously.

3. What action steps will you take to be more effective in the future?
(type your response here)
One step that I can take in the future is to identify a leader of the group and encourage

others to place some interest in the activity.

For Part II of the assignment, you can copy / paste the following content / prompts ("A"
and "B") into your paper, then respond accordingly.

A. What was your Learning Style Type? Were you balanced or was there a general dominant
style? Given that this course focuses on the nature of teams in the contemporary workplace,
comment on your strengths and weaknesses with respect to working effectively in an
organizational team environment (see Exhibit 3.4, etc., in chapter 3). Tell a story or two from
your life that illustrates some connections between your learning style type and some of your
past or current behaviors when working with others in an organizational or social context.
(type your response here)
The learning style type that I am more associated with is the accommodative learning

style. After taking the assessment, accommodative was my general dominant style. The strengths

identified with Exhibit 3.4 of chapter 3 lies within my person daily life. I am an individual who

accomplishes task, take a lot of risks and exhibits leadership within my current department.

However, I would have to disagree with deficiency. The deficiencies identified in Exhibit 3-4 are

(1) work is not completed on time, (2) impractical plans, and (3) not directed to goals. In my

current department, I am considered by my current manager as well as managers in other

department as the most reliable recruiter, and as individual who always accomplishes recruitment

metrics with quality hires and at a high rate each month. Recently, I was place on a recruitment

project called the NTP program, focusing on nursing students who are currently seniors within
 Self-reflection 4

college, placing them within the unit to obtain 1:1 training with the intent of transitioning the

student into a registered nurses (RN) in the organization after they graduate. The project was

given to me because management felt that I was the most capable recruiter to take on this manual

process and mirroring to the organization current New Graduate hiring program.

B. Think about what you just learned from the reading and reflect on a significant social
learning experience from your past (an experience that involved working with others in some
organizational, group, or team manner). Think about what you can apply to set yourself up for
success in this class as you reply to these items:
1. What are your personal goals for the course? To increase self-awareness. To learn
theories and concepts? To fulfill a requirement. To get a grade. To apply learning in your job or
life? Some of these or something else?
(type your response here)
My personal goals for this course are: 1) to fill a curriculum requirement, 2) to increase

self-awareness of management techniques I can apply to current job, and 3) professional

improvement within my chosen career path.

2. How will what you have learned from your previous experiences with team
projects (at work or school) help (or hinder) your effectiveness? What are your resources /
support mechanisms for this course? What experiences, in or out of school, will help you
perform well?
(type your response here)
The lessons learned in previous experiences with regards to working in teams will help

my effectiveness. In the past I learned working in teams requires shared commitment from each

team. Also, that you must hold all members of your team as well as yourself accountable for

assignment requirements in a timely manner. The resource/support mechanism I have for this

course lies within a professional, personal, and educational standpoint. Professionally, my job

supports me going to school to acquire my degree. Educationally, I have resources at the

university, such the online library or writing center for assistance. Personally, I have people

within my life that I can go to for insight, and assistance in reaching my goals.

3. As you go through the course, what strategies can you use to help facilitate and
enhance your own learning process (see Exhibit 3.4, etc., in chapter 3)? Be sure to consider all
four of the different learning styles, and suggest some approaches / strategies you could use to
 Self-reflection 5

further enhance your level of success and/or bring balance to your experience?
(type your response here)
In the past I have used variety of strategies to enhance my success. One strategy that have

work well is utilizing the weekend to complete my reading assignment, and different days in the

week to complete weekly requirements. Another strategy I have utilize is seeking opinion from

friends who completed the BA/Master’s program and what techniques they have utilize in

balancing the home life and education.

4. What norms of behavior or ground rules do you set for yourself (and hope to hold
your team members accountable for) to ensure a successful experience? What level of
commitment do you carry as you enter this experience? (Also, be sure to share these insights
with your team when the time comes!)
(type your response here)
One norm that I have set for myself is always ensure I am completing my weekly reading

requirement first before completing any other educational task. As a working mom of two, I have

also set the norm of ensuring my girls homework and daily chores are completely early, giving

me down time at night to complete my own school assignments. I bring a high level of

commitment to ensure I have successful experience. I currently have a GPA above a 3.5 and my

goal is to ensure I am maintaining that.

5. You have already made a series of life decisions that led you to join this class.
Now, based on your thought processes associated with these prompts (and the nature of this
course), craft a personal contract statement that includes your decision to participate in the
course. Just a sentence or two capturing your intention of committing to full participation
(hopefully!) and/or anything you’d like to state succinctly that serves as your personal intention
as you embark on this new adventure in BIS 343.
(type your response here)
I, Marissa Mallahan, after reading the syllabus fully understand the vigorous

requirements of this course, and pledge to myself to ensure I am not only meeting but exceeding

these requirements. I will never flaunter on a weekly assignment and will ensure that all

assignments are completed weekly.

Reference:

Thompson, L. (2014). Making the Team: A Guide for Managers, 5th edition. Pearson. ISBN-13:

978-0132968089